I  E>  RAR.Y 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 

977  37£ 
C36p 


Illinois  Historical  Survtj 


S&f. 


-OF- 


LES  COUNTY,  ILL., 


CONTAINING 


Full  Page  Portraits  and  Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent 
and  Representative  Citizens  of  the  County, 


TOGETHER  WITH 


PORTRAITS   AND    BIOGRAPHIES    OF    ALL    THE    GOVERNORS    OF    ILLINOIS,  AND 
OF    THE    PRESIDENTS    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES. 


CHICAGO: 

CHAPMAN  BKOTHEES, 

1887. 


i- 


9-77-  372, 


HAVE  completed  our  labors  in  writing  and  compiling  the  PORTRAIT  AND  Bio- 
iGRAPHiCAL  ALBUM  of  this  county,  and  wish,  in  presenting  it  to  our  patrons,  to  speak 
briefly  of  the  importance  of  local  works  of  this  nature.  It  is  certainly  the  duty 
of  the  present  to  commemorate  the  past,  to  perpetuate  the  names  of  the  pioneers, 
to  furnish  a  record  of  their  early  settlement,  and  to  relate  the  story  of  their  progress, 
i-  The  civilization  of  our  day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age,  and  this  solemn  duty  which 
men  of  the  present  time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to  themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives  and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  local  history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to  enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and  to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a  safe 
vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the  people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  region  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly  the  noble  men,  who  in  their  vigor  and  prime 
came  early  to  the  county  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their  heiitage,  are  passing  to  their 
graves.  The  number  remaining  who  can  relate  the  history  of  the  first  days  of  settlement  is 
becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an  actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preservation  of  his- 
torical matter  without  delay,  before  the  settlers  of  the  wilderness  are  cut  down  by  time.  Not  only 
is  it  of  the  greatest  importance  to  render  history  of  pioneer  times  full  and  accurate,  but  it  is  also  essen- 
tial that  the  history  of  the  county,  from  its  settlement  to  the  present  day,  should  be  treated  through  its  various 
phases,  so  that  a  record,  complete  and  impartial,  may  be  handed  down  to  ihe  future.  The  present  the  age 
of  progress,  is  reviewed,  standing  out  in  bold  relief  over  the  quiet,  unostentatious  olden  times;  it  is  a  brilliant 
record,  which  is  destined  to  live  in  the  future ;  the  good  works  of  men,  their  magnificent  enterprises,  theii 
lives,  whether  commercial  or  military,  do  not  sink  into  oblivion,  but,  on  the  contrary,  grow  brighter  with  age, 
and  contribute  to  build  up  a  record  which  carries  with  it  precedents  and  principles  that  will  he  advanced  and 
observed  when  the  acts  of  soulless  men  will  be  forgotten  and  their  very  names  hidden  in  obscurity. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  personal  sketches  contained  in  this  volume,  unusual'care  and  pains  were 
taken  to  have  them  accurate,  even  in  the  smallest  detail.  Indeed,  nothing  was  passed  lightly  over  or  treated 
indifferently ;  and  we  flatter  ourselves  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  accurate  works  of  its  nature  ever  published. 
As  one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this  work,  we  present  the  portraits  of  numerous  represent- 
ative citizens.  It  has  been  our  aim  to  have  the  prominent  men  of  to-day,  as  well  as  the  pioneers,  represented 
in  this  department;  and  we  congratulate  ourselves  on  the  uniformly  high  character  of  the  gentlemen  whose 
portraits  we  present.  They  are  in  the  strictest  sense  representative  men,  and  are  selected  from  all  the  call- 
ings and  professions  worthy  to  be  given.  There  are  others,  it  is  true,  who  claim  equal  prominence  with 
those  given ;  but  of  course  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  give  portraits  of  all  the  leading  men  and  pioneers 
,of  the  county.  We  are  under  great  obligation  to  many  of  the  noble  and  generous  people  of  this  county 
for  kindly  and  material  assistance  in  the  preparation  of  this  ALBUM. 


p*« 

s-  • 
li-W 


CHICAGO,  October,  1887. 


CHAPMAN  BROTHERS. 


911421 


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OF  THE 


AND   OF  THE 


OF  THE 


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The  Library 
of  the 
of 


FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


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HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
Feb.    22,   1732.     His  parents 
were     Augustine    and     Mary 
(Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been    satisfactorily  traced    in 
England.       His     great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and    became     a     prosperous 
planter.      He  had    t\yo   sons, 
Lawrence    and     John.      The 
former   married    Mildred    Warner 
and    had    three    children,    John, 
Augustine  and  Mildred.      Augus- 
tine,   the   father  of   George,  first 
married    Jane   Butler,    who    bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.     Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,    the    others    being    Betty, 
Samuel,  John   Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 

Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instruction  in 
mathematics,  His  spelling  was  rather  defective. 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physical 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  1 4  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  1751,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health.  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake '  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.  The 


•20 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 


trip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
were  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says :  "  I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  leveling  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  ha'd  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
look  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
of  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia.Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  member  of  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  lo  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  ever)'  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  1783,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  resigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  to 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  February, 1 7 89,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean  ;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  years  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France. 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  neld  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  r  2,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  his  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  wi'h  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  been  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tan,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


The  library 

of  tke 
Unfvenity  if  Illinois 


SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


23 




'WH^-™+"*^ 


)"> 


\|  OHN  ADAMS,  the  second 
$).  President  and  the  first  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Braintree  ( now 
2,,  Quincy),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles  from  Boston,  Oct.  19, 
1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,  emigrated  from  England 
,  about  1 640,  with  a  family  of  eight 
fl  sons,  and  settled  at  Braiatree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion at  Harvard  College.  John 
graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This  he  found  but  a 
"school  of  affliction,"  from  which  he  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in  addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.  For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
had  thought  seriously  of  the  clerical  profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
cils, of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.  He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (1765),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holding  a  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  popular 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  the 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  five 
appointed  June  n,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  the 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife, 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says,"the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  will 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
God.  It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp, 


24 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  You  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  France  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  proposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  \Vhilein  England,  still  drooping  and  despond- 
ing, he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,he  made  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785.,  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
his  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President,though  not  without  much  opposition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 
'  While  Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the  great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  wuh 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
class  of  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  IN- 
DEPENDENCE FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests.was  intellectual  ard  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncpnrteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


The  Library 

of  the 
University  of  Illinois 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


27 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
born  April  2,  1743,  at  Shad- 
well,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were    Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randolph)    Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don.    To  them  were  born  six 
daughters   and    two   sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When   14  years   of  age    his 
father  died.     He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,    hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.     In  1760  he  entered  William 
and  Mary  College.     Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obodeof  fashion 
a.id  splendor.      Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then   17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,    yet   he 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.     It   is   strange,   however,   under 
such  influences,that  he  was  not  ruined.     In  the   sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded   his   horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.     He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  hard    study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.     He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
C.reek  authors  he  read  with  facility.     A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls;  and 


r 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses.  In 
1772)16  married  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widow. 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon, 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the .  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thoinas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776.  What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


28 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


«L- 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
soverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  £.s  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Monticello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  i,  1794.  In  r797,he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
lic, and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary  of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  the 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer, 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  whic  h 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  no 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expresied  the  earnest  wish  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  airof  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life !  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,-  - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicir.gs  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  tne  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore 
head  broad,  and  his  whole  countenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  ;:s 
well  as  personal  courage ;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic  ;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a.  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


The  Library 

of  the 
University  of  ""' 


I 


FOURTH  PRESIDENT. 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 
June  28,  1836.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of  this  great   republic  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   be   called   to   his   eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
iwlitical  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
1 8  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


prudent  zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  1771,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subsf 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  'to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
wjs  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-loving  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the  Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;  and  their  appreciation  of  his 


JAMES  MADISON. 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  81  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  power  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  trie  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
which  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat ;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  1812,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  41(1 
of  March,  ig'3,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infant 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling with  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  Februaiy, 
1813,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coasrt  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
dilator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  door  to 
awa'it  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  bei'  g 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Ghent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  i8r7,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


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FIFTH  PRESIDENT. 


35 


AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth 
Presidentof  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  i h;it  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

HL-  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in  ;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whcm  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  siuh  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
political  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry ;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy- 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp ;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  a  volun- 
teer, during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  public  good, 


JAMES  MOw£OE. 


he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen    a   member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

Deeplyas  Mr.  Monroefelt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
ihinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republican  party, 
that  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
lames  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian^  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
light  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured.  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Convention 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations. 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  trance  to 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Tlieir  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  our 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  but  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  of 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec- 
tion held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  liitle  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  181-7,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the  "  Monroe  doctrine.'" 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At  that 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  the  South  American  slates,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  European 
powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This 'doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  fecond  term  Mr.  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until   1830, 
when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live  with  his  son-in-     4 
law.     In  that  city  he  died,on  the  4th  of  July,  1831. 


T 


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of  the 
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SIXTH  PRESIDENT. 


39 


3055 


IiaHIIIHMRMKI&HK'<HINNflNHtt^^ 


I 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the  United 
States,  was  bom  in  the  rural 
home  of  his   honored   father, 
John  Adams,  in  Quincy,  Mass., 
on  the  i  ith  cf  July,  1767.  His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the  almost   constant   ab- 
sence of  his  father.      When   but 
eight  years  of  age,  he  stood  with 
his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames  billow- 
ing up  from    the   conflagration   of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  fatner  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  of  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was-  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
ihe  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
John  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  grer.t  diligence,  for  six  months, 
to  study;  then  accompanied  his  father  to  Holland, 
where  lie  entered,  first  a  school  in  Amsterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  1781,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spoilt  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
!o  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
his  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague.  Thence, 


in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  to 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent; 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings, 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  After 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  and 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive; 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Great  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  in 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Berlin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  waiting  he  was  married  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  'been  previously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  London; 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  the 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  was  destined. 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  purposes  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Qnincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations  ;  while  he 
kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  important 
part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
Adams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  1819,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
i8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr,  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety-nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty-one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  wer.t  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
combined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
the  past  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  ther&  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  home  in 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew- 
Jackson.  John  C.  Callioun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
portentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued-with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle'  for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"  the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  The 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  its  moral  dating  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  Hou?e,  with  assassination; 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prajer  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2 1 st  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earth  /'then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  "/am  content."  These  were  the  ^  , 
last  words  of  the  grand  "Old  Man  Eloquent." 


T 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


SE  VENTH  PRESIDENT. 


't<z-.~'2<$.  -i 
Jfygva*"  5»^T>w^a«Wzrev.  aPjrs' 


NDREVV     JACKSON,     the 
seventh    President    of     the 
'  United   States,  was  born  in 
Waxhaw  settlement,  N.    C., 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.    His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from    Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up^.  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.      His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly;   and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,    made  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
blow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  in  obtaining  their  exchange, 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illness 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  such  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
witn  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  marjied  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes- 
sion, and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  eleven 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates. 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  Jack- 
son was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress  then  held  its 


-I 


-JL 


44 


'ANDREW  JACKSON. 


sessions, — a  distance  of  about  eight  hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic p-irty.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  Kngland.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  wlio  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  mm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  lie  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  fjr  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred ti[)on  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  [ackson 
offered  Ilis  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack r.pan  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  lie  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "  Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Beaton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  n\xm  a.  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bends  of  theTallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men,  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  readied  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  271)1  of  March.  1814.  The  bend 


Pi 
! 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  breast- 
work of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suplyof  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting-.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  ;is 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
power  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  itsterriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  (ien.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault.  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up  and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applauded  by  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Tack-  A 
son's  life  were  that  of  a  devoted  Christian  man. 


T 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


"7 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July   24,    1862.      His 
body  rests  in   the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite    shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  way  up   on   one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

He  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
a  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  After 
spending  six  years  in  an  office  in  his  native  village, 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights ;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  htm 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  th.: 
courtly  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  tht 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mi. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  a/nd  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump- 
tion, leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  over 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
*an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  1812,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
prominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  had 


48 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that " universal  suffrage"  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles',  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  loading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  111  it  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  1821  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  ix»ition  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
the  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
termined opp-jser  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
"State  Rights "  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
deemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing,  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supiwsed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
stealthily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outwitted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

\Viie.i  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
refused  to  ratify  the  nomination,  and  he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled ;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson ;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite; and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Execu- 
tive. On  the  2oth  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in 
volve  this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  .question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1848, 
Mr.  Van  .Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald) 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  241)1  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life, 


t 


1IBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


*-*-* 


PRESIDENT. 


- 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth   President  of 
the   United  States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,   Benjamin   Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and   John    Hancock    were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice  re-elected.  His  son, 
William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 
in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
then  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
Robert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  remonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
having  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


I 


dent  Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  ''  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wil- 
liam Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap- 
pointed by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrison 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  About 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "  The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
anorator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator :  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe  the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  1812,  his  army  began  its  inarch.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations. Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side, and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompanied  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
DUS  yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned  :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore them,  and  completely  routing  the  foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can- 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances,  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chiefof  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re- 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  earned  in  a 
valise;  and.  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re-nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  for  the  Vice  President  y. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects,  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisy-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


TEtfTH  PRESIDENT. 


TYLER,     the    tenth 
Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high    social    po- 
sition.    At  the   early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and  Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted  him- 
self with    great   assiduity  to   the 
study    of    law,    partly   with    his 
father   and   partly  with   Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
et of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
not  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  Govern- 


ment,  a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con* 
struction  of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.  His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.  Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  There  was  a  split  in  the  Democratic 


I 


TVLER. 


party.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisbnrg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
1839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  North :  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time,  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  found  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opposed  to  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honest  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  tjie  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Harrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccommended  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.  He  suagested,  however,  that  he  would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval.  __ 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the  members  of  bis 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  Ke 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Wliigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  atthe  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  'days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State- 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn  had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  deslroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,  he  was  taken  sick  and  soon  died. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


ELEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


59 


AMES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C.,  Nov.  2,  1795.     His  par- 
ents were   Samuel   and   Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 
of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 
at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1006,  with  his  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  farnly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry  Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huts, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  "K.  Polk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
him  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


sedentary  life,  got  a  situation  for  him  behind  the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  r8i5,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be- 
ing deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Folk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a'  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Folk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished  morals,  genial  and 


So 


JAMES  K.  POLK. 


* 


\ 


courteous  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  joys  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinued in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House.  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  i4th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message,  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
other  States.  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  war 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "  invasion,."was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr.  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge— was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  i5th  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fifty-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


t 


r 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.  His 
father,  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,  young  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  feailess  and  self-reliant,  and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Indians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  There 
is  little  to  be  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  iSoS,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army  ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, iu  1812,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison, on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
jed  by  Tecumseh.  Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering   fifty  men,    many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  i8r2,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war-whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  •  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  Major  Taylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.  There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in-  • 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black -Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty -four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
had  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
here  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  such  wearisome  employment 
amidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula,  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
and  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Here  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
imposed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mexicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Buena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
forces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
simplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
the  sobriquet  of  "  Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
spread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
Whig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
lettered, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nouncement, and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  toil;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
who  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
their  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose  name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer.  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  topk  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  9lh  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  words  were,  "I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  short, 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortable,  labor- 
saving  contempt  for  learning  of  every  kind," 


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67 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y  .,  on 
the  yth  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 


ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances.    Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it   has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect  - 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and   ex- 
quisite sensibilities.      She   died   in 
1831 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man  of  distinguished    prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
and  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy ; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Near  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate; 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  historyi 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  that 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  •  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
no  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  about 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  halls 
and  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  means  as 


68 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  foitune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill,— Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature  ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degn  e  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected,  and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  him  strength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he  was  elected  Comptroller  of  the  State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  trumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesof  Zachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  pth  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion, was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution, Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillniore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  'opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  conciliate 
the  South ;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacyof  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more,  having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  r856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,  1874. 


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4>4&4&&Mg»&yhiMh&&&dH!^^ft*&i4yy^|*^ 


I 


RANKLIN     PIERCE,   the 
fourteenth    President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,   N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,   who, 
with    his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a    home   in   the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though   uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar ;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  of  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied :  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  yeais.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty, 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoted.  Of  the 


I 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  bom  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1847. 
He  took  an  imjwrtant  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval ;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "  Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  1 2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States  on  the  4th  of  March,  1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  be- 
tween slavery  and  freedom  was.  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  It  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "irrepressible  conflict"  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years1  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ;  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  gladened  by  his  material  bounty. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


flFTEENTH  PRESIDENT* 


I 


AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridge  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  on 
the  23d  of  April,  1791.  The  place 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
father  stood  was  called  Stony 
Batter.  It  was  a.  wild  and  ro- 
mantic spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  powers  en- 


abled  him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  with 
facility. 

In  the  year  1809,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  of 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar ;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  '  elected,  and  for 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House, 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  aO. 
quired  an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  the  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  making  repri- 


76 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country  ;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  his  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  the  vote  of  censure 
against  (Jen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  "  might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  Folk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1050, 
which  included  the  fugitive -slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency.  The 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slavery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
r.eived  114  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular  vote  stood 
1,340,618,  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for  Buchanan.  On 
March  4th,  1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
years  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  political  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


ciples,  consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws, 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic. He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slavery 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offer  them 
far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress 'had  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  State  which  had  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  This 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  upon  his  sword  hilt,  he  exclaimed,  "The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved ! " 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  1860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston;  Fort  Sumpter 
was  besieged ;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  country's 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion. 
He  died  at  his  Wheatland  retreat,  June  i,  1868. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


1  1 


SIXTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


BRAHAM  LINCOLN,  the 
sixteenth  President  of  the 
%  United  States,  was  born  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 
ft  1809.  About  the  year  1780,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  then 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whose  name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log -cabin;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none ;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
loss,  wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
laborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  bull!  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"  All  that  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother. 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana.  Where 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  read 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  to 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sister 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr, 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1830, 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  their 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of 
education,  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  aident  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain ;"  and  a  profane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborer 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat. 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin- 
coln undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.  In  this  adven- 


f 


So 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


ture  his  employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that  upon 
his  return  they  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected.  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher  prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  i6th  of  June,  1860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
prominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him : 
and  as  little  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
only,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected'President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  vas  poured  upon  this  good 


and  merciful  mar.,' especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  fraught 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to"  get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  HarrisL-urg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten ;  and  to  prevent  ahy  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people. 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr.  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  oilier  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  personal  and  national  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  Le  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, witn  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  lie  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  'were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  will 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  ils  father;  his  country- 
men being  unable  to  decide  which  is  the  greater. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


•*•• 


SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.       The    early    life    of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.      He 
7  was  bom    December   29,     1808, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.     His    parents, 
belonging   to   the   class    of    the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  even  the  slight- 

o 

cst  advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow- workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.  The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book, 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  on- 
ward laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos- 
sessed some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs ;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature, 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  those 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  res]K>nsible  posi- 
tions, he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abiK 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


I 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  free  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir,"' 
said  he  0:1  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic  ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig  leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston- Baltimore  convention  of  1860,  he 
ffa.s  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
Presidency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
ern Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
roust  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rale.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.  In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President   of  the    United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April   15, 

1865,  became  President.     In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must   be   taught,   if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished;  that   the     Government  will    not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies ;  that  it   is   strong   not 
only  to  protect,  but   to    punish.     *     *     The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the   blackest   of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."     Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to,  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress ;  and  he  char  • 
acterized  Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the  trial  began  March  23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  Il  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotently, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The 'Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greeaville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,1116  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.M.,  July  3 1,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


I  • 


EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
eighteenth  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  on 
the  2gth  of  April,  1822,  of 
Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  e*hibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resacade  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
he  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  aninvil,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, 111.  This  was  in  the  year  1860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the»army;  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.  On  the  ieth  of 


ULYSSES  S.  GRANT. 


I 


June,  1 86 1,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had,  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrenderor  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
District  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
pushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and, received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  in  fighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
and  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his  new  office. 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  cf 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was. saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  it.;  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago, 
May  21,  1868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  .and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872,- 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being  cast  for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term,  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1880  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1885,  the  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


NINETEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  far  back  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Ealiol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
tune overtaking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  1680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn,  His  son 
George  was  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  and  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes  the  father  of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious, 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to  Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day, 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter- 
mined to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES. 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Haves'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
Iwy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
him,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  ';  That's  right!  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  wo.ild  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "  You 
wait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  b:;t  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in  1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1 845,  after  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  upon  his  subse- 
quent life.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  such  men  ?s  Chief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman- 
hood. The  Literary  Cluu  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulness  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  of 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Council 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  at 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  life.  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  up 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  ard  illustrious.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevetted 
Major-General,  "forgallnnt  nnd  distif  guished  f-trvices 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times. 

In  r864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army  ;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  I 
shall  never  corne  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  popular  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in  r875. 

In  1876  he  was  the  standard  bearer  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
augurated  Monday,  March  5,  r875_  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  however,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  adminWration  was  an  average  OP" 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


TWENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


95 


i^    \  I>  TA 

liAKr 


1 


AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born   Nov.    19, 
1831,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His   par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Eliza 
(Ballon)    Garfield,   both   of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
wus  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
tween the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
hard  working  fanner,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
The  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
tneir  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
James.  In  May,  1823,  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
tracted in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
this  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
tell  how  much  James  was  indebted  to  his  biother's 
toil  and  self- sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
ters live  in  Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  he'  struggles  to  keep  the  little  family  to- 


gether.  Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor, 
the  humblest  friend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  he 
was  about  sixteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtain 
some  other  kind  of  employment.  He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city. 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  went 
home,  and  attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered.  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way. 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.  He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  hon- 
ors of  his  class.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  stated,  he  early 
united  with  the  Christian  or  Diciples  Church  at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and  places  where 
he  happened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  religion : 


•> 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgment  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called'  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  be  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
tarian  charity  for  all  'who  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.Garfieldmadehis  first  political  speeches  in  1856, 
in  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1861  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  .The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut.-Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
(Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  ro,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  memberof  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "  Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  Hstory  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Gen.  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  fiom  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  sixty  years 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  There  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  which 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  which 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu- 
ment on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favo.'  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Elaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  indicting  no  further 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained' 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J  ,  on  the  very  bunk  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


T 


ilBKARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


TWENTY-FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 
twenty-first    Presr-'lwiii  of  the 
United   States    was    born    in 
P  ranklin  Cour  ty,  Vermont,  on 
thefifthofOdober,  1830,  and  is 
the  oldest   of  a   family    of  two 
sons  and    five   daughters.     His 
father  was  ths  Rev.  Dr.  William 
Arthur,  a  Baptist c>  ,rgyman,  who 
emigrated  to  tb'.s  country  from 
the  county  Antrim,  Ireland,   in 
his  1 8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  in 
Newtonville,   neai    Albany,   after  a 
long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S<  henectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
tj  in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  entered  the  office  of  ex- Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
I  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate,, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success- 
ful career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  irv,rr<jd  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at. 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nomination  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon. 
athan  Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they,  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs. 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 


100 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  Yoik,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
]K)litics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1 87  8,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthi'.r  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  tS8o.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  thecontinent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  leading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
was  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
March  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering,— those  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  when-  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions  were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re- 
covery of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  hud  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field  from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as  never 
before  in  its  history  over  the  death  of  any  other 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.  Then  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Vice  President  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  York, 
Sept.  20,  1881.  The  position  was  an  embarr.issing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.  The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  own 
hands ;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the  nation,  acting  so 
wisely  that  but  few  criticised  his  administration. 
He  served  the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his  party  for  a  second 
term.  His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention at  Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party 
for  another  campaign.  He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

DIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


t 

1 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


to3 


3& 


TEPHEN  GROVfiR  CLEVE- 
LAND, the  twenty- second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
horn  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  bom. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academics  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayetteville  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in' a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $coo  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 


I 


•t. 


104 


S.   GROVER  CLEVELAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
he  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  He  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
ask  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
law,"  was  the  reply.  "  Good  gracious !  "  remarked 
the  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed  ?  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head  ?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"  "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 
any." 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
pla.ce  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  while  lie  could  "look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  them  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Graver's  persistency  won,  and 
he  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
have  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
none — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
wilh  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
but  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
elected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  punishment  upon  two 
criminals.  In  1881  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning  contract:  "This  is  a  time  for 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
n,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.;  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Elaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1885.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York  ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts ; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York ;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  Vilas, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


I 


I 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

WtVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


HADRACH  BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  us  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812-14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  .seat  Dec.  3, 
1812,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  1814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
The  year  1812  is  also  noted  in  the  history  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emp- 
t  on  on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Territory.  In  company  with  John  G.  Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown,  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W. 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  .at  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  1818  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6, 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  before  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  1818,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan ;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros- 
ecuting attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  At 
that  time  Illinois  comprised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was  honored  by  the  naming  of  a 


i     112 


StiADRACH  BOND. 


county  before  he  was  elected  Governor.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the>  Slate,  even 
before  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called, 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "  Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Kent  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  when  the  f  im  KIS  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36°  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  1824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  1818  was  a 
compromise  one,  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  first  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 

^       provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and  de- 
_i  i     ^m 


clared  that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  "  officers  of  the  State  " 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kasknskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
10  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  iis  execution; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole,  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  oat  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  Joim  I'. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  th_- 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  maue 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicioas  bestowment  of  his 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg- 
islature, with  VVm.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershom 
Jayne.  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  pe.ii- 
tentiary  on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position, a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap- 
preciation of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  afier  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  hair  jet  and 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  witli  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  ii,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


t 


DWARD  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
.  6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
"  Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
1 807,  a  short  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Wm.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college,  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  notables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs,  Tazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  found  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  number  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  question  of  slavery.  He  read  every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  way,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  more 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  him  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal  "  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  Madison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  part 
of  the  non-slaveholding  portion  of  the  Union  he  would 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue. 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the  Emperor  (Alex- 


EDWARD  COLES. 


I 


ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  minister  at 
Washington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  parts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  them  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  the  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  desciibed  in  his  own  language  : 

"  The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  me  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  expression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
on  me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  the  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1819,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  Edwardsvil:g: 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  th's  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  politeness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  ques  ion  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  Jn  tne  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
putting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
Phillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
Browne  and  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
itia. The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But. 
he  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  ihen 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  which  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  time  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  larg'j 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  ol 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "  shiveree  "  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yelled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution ;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people, 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  revealed 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  nearto  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugli  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestry, 
who  cam t  to  this  country  with  Wm.  Penn  in  1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  Stnte.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1868,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

•jrVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


II9 


INI  AN  EDWARDS,  Governor 
from  1827  to  1830,  was1  a  son 
of  Benjamin  Edwards,  and 
was  born  in  Montgomery 
County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
&  1775.  His  domestic  train- 
ing was  well  fitted  to  give 
his  mind  strength,  firmness  and 
honorable  principles,  and  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character  to  which  he  afterwards 
attained.  His  parents  were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
piinciples.  His  education  in  early 
youth  was  in  company  with  and 
partlyunder  the  tuition  of  Hon.  Wm. 
Wirt,  whom  his  father  patronized, 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.  An  intimacy  was  thus 
foruud  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.  He 
was  further  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.  He  next  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before  completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm  for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Here  he  fell  in  the  company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
spendthrift.  He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
bounty  before  he  was  21  years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
elected  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


Jn  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age!  In  addition,  in 
1802,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1804  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1806  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  1809,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  1809.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  i  ith  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developing  into  considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the  people  of  each  county,  by  an  informal  ' 


f 


T2O 


NINIAN  EDWARDS. 


vote,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  1810  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  1812,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
the  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  _years 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
1812,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  1815  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
bater and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
seriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  1821,  but  was 
persuaded  by  his  old  friend,  Wm.  Wirt,  and  others  to 
continue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
Wm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
order  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
disgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
the  State  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
this  commonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
actor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victory 
for  his  party  in  1824. 

In  1826-7  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted soive  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  the 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  lands 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  W?r."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  have 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  aud  sheep  from  Ke.itucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eight  or  ten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  always  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  was  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  him 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  especially,  is  well 
known  to  the  people  of  the  ''  Prairie  State,"  namely, 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield. 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia from  1809  to  1818;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  his 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  cholera.  Edwnrds 
County  is  also  named  in  his  honor. 


T 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

'JC'VERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


VERKORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


"3 


OHN  REYNOLDS, Governor  1831- 

'i;s*  4.  W;1S  korn  m  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
1 1 is  mother,  »?<?  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
I  he  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sjcetch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
posed to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.  In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal, 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  2oth  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himself 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville!  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  through  the  principal  Latin  authors ;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  discipline.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  1812  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social  intercourse. 


•4* 


,  IZ4 


JOHN  REYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  of  1812, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  [814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  ihe  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
judicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
of  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti-Jackson," 
the  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor, amid  great  excitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  recc  mmended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatorial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  witli  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
general  Government  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
the  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
term. 

South  Carolina  nullification  coming  up  at  this  time, 
it  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
and  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  considering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
he  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  Slate  since  he 
became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
days  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
move  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
should  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  place 
naming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable  heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex  Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  year^, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "My  Own  Times"  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lidy  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Hiving  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accord1  ngly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was. only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In  1 846  Gov  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu- 
larly for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  1860,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C  ,  as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supported  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  1861,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  ratlur  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  phrases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINO/S 


t 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


I27 


ILLIAM  LEE  D.  EWING, 
Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  had 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined  sentiment.  In  1830  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  Zadok  Casey  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  for  the  principal 'events  that  followed, 
and  the  characteristics  of  the  times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  The  first  we 
see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 
Moneys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
this  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  hands 
were  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
at  the  present  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  v/as 
robbed,  by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
dollar  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
he  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  sumtner  of  1832, 
when  it  was  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  and  his  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  River,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  tour  of 
reconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
subordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
Rock  River  in  search  of  the  enemy.  On  the  igth  of 
July,  early  in  the  morning,  'five  baggage  wagons, 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cle.; were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  might 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamps 
a  :d  the  worst  thickets;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
give  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  acting  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  inarched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skin';  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  awaj  to  hasten  their  inarch.  During  the 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  toward  the  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
his  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly- 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  in- 


1  ' 

I 


WILLIAM  L.  D\  ElVING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  in  another  direction. 

In  the  above  affair  Maj.  Ewing  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  "General,"  uhich  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Senate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
the  August  election  of  1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
time  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Chailes  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing, by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
15  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  iyth  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  On  the  lyth  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor;  and 
on  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
was  sworn  into  ofnve,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  ZQth  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  afterwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes,' Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped  ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie ;  but  on 
the  1 2th  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewing 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Auditor  on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
lie  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  of 
originality.  He  died  March  25,  1846. 


\ 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

OF  ILLINOIS 


.,*" ,  •••  «~- 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


4- 

131    MJ 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
[834-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Great 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
or  Fort  Std'phenson.  In  Illinois 
I  e.  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-General  of  the  Militia, 
a  position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  forCongress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
As  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  State.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  the  glory  of 
his  milita'.y  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
but  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
full  of  gond  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
his  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  Mr. 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  64r  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,32 r  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated. 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  p.enonal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From'  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
August,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise;  but  he  was  doubtless 


•fa 


JOSEPH  DUNCAN. 


i 


sincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
had  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
against  the  course  of  the  President.  The  measures 
he  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
mainly  to  banks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal improvement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
rupted the  State.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
and  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
these  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually charged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  one  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public;, 
but  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 
handle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
for  the  failure.  In  this  great  vortex  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  excitement  the  Legislature 
"  provided  for  "  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Terre  Haute,  Quincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabash, 
Bloomington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 
about  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve 
ments  were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
placed  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
more  than  half  enough !  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
saddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000  !  It 
was  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,  even  counting  all  the  possible  benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
in  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
joy  in  the  fall  of  1837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
term  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "Abolitionist," 
editing  the  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
i  y  slavery  slums  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob, 


L   edil 

i  y  slav 

r 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  .his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  the 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1838.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected, 
receiving  46,901  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  of  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
that  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  policy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  right.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  black 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1844,  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  leaving  a  wife 
but  no  children.  Two  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

MfYERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


—•H* 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'35 


i 


gSHOMAS  CARLIN,  the  sixth 
Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  serving  from  1838 
to  1842,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
1 8,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
judgment  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  him  through 
life.  'In  1803  his  father  removed 
lo  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  1810. 

In  1812  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  1814  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sc^ri,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
H/r.ton,  in  that  county,  and  in  1825  made  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  Sheriff  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate'.  In  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
po>t  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and  to  fulfill  the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 

While,  in  1838,  the  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  with  all  its 
expensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  United  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times"  existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  State  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  the 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  with  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  State 
policy.  But  the  grand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost  its 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  question  of  arresting 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
campaign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg- 
islature were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
Convention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brother  of  Ninian  Edwards,  formerly  Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while  Carlin 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  time 
that  the  two  main  political  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  the  field.  The 
result  of  the  election  was:  Carlin,  35,573 ;  Ander- 
son, 30,335;  Edwards,  29,629;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

715- 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent   Legislature 

(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  CDuncan*)  in  his  cues- 


136 


THOMAS  CARLIN. 


sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  $4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Cn'cago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
to  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
through  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  warranto  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  John  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "  Whig  Court!' 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scales,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Cov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  "Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  not  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  their  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — that  they  should  have 


"all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supixrted  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  l>y  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1840-1,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  daring  to 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  the 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved. 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  his  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  1841,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  Adam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  f>r  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  M.mnons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
narty.  The  next  spring  the  Whigi  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  S.iyder  dieJ  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supre  ne  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  tha  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1849 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4, 
1852,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

yt!!VERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GO  VEKNOKS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


139 


^ 


JHOMAS  FORD,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  1 800.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
girls.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
tomary by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers;  but  upon  her 
arriv;il  ;it  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi bluffs.  Here  young  Ford  received  his  first 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endowments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education ; 
but  George  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  for  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.  Through  the  advice  of 


140 


THOMAS  FORD. 


this  gentleman,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding his  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing  to  Forquer'.-;  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ing school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  Edwards  appointed  him  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  1831  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
he  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
ian  principle, — Never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  his  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  power  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
"ound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
practice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
the  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  Fie  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  to  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
night by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a  "  combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "brass"  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
administration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
financial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "and 
the  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Governor  proved  himself 
to  be  eminently  wise.  On  coining  into  office  he  found 
the  State  badly  paralyzed  by  the  ruinous  effects  of 
the  notorious  "internal  improvement"  schemes  of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  wa; 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  tu 
completion.  Tne  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  Sta;-j 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
theirleader,  Jo  Smith,  by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  a- 
Judge  fov  so  many  years  previously.,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  no  i-committal  concerning  Mor.non  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
other  side.  Mormcnism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  n.ixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  su  xessor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc. 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operations 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  lie  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con- 
temporaries who  were  prominent  during  his  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  111., 
Nov.  2,  1850. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLIHO/S 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'43 


us  c.  French 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1846  to  1852,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Hill,  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, 
Aug.  2,  1808.  He  was  a 
descendant  in  the  fourth 
generation  of  Nathaniel 
French,  who  emigrated  from  England 
'in  1687  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  young  French  lost  his 
father,  but  continued  to  receive  in- 
struction from  an  exemplary  and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  19  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.  He  discharged  his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.  His  education  in  early  life  was 
such  mainly  as  a  common  school  afforded.  For  a 
brief  period  he,  attended  Dartmouth  College,  but 
from  pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.  He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.  Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  life 
by  representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.  A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at-which  place  he  was  a  resident  when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
u  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  Tohn  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scales, 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly, — an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  rumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Win.  McMurtry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilcox,'  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election ;  but  in  the  meantime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,  received  5,152  votes. 


,  ,    144 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCff. 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1848,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  term  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbent  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  L.  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  lime,  the  distribution  of  Government 
land  warrants  among  the  Mexican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  $100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1839,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  the 
population  851,470. 


In  1849  the  Legislature  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  1851.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  passed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  0:1  executions. 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  urged 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1850  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  there  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project ;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (Easl  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important' epoch  in  the 
railroad — we  might  say  internal  improvement — his- 
tory of  the  State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  1851  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  complexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  public  speech  lie  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1865,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St 
Clair  Co.,  111. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

yrVEHSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


"47 


i:OEL  A.  MATTESON,  Governor 
1853-6,  was  born  Aug.  8,  1808, 
in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon English  education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel  first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small  tradesman  in  Prescott, 
Canada,  before  he  was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered  an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited  the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  his  father  had 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  the  South,  worked  there 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  storm  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  the  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  father's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried. In  1833,  having  sold  his  farm,  he  removed, 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  An 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.  At 
that  time  there  were  not  more  than  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten  miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
three  or  four  houses  between  him  and  Chicago.  He 
opened  a  large  farm.  His  family  was  boa/do£  /" 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  daring  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  r83S  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
brokeout  in  Chicago  in  1836  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1838  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  1841,  when  hard  times 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  him  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1842  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apiiortionmeiit,  John  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however, 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


148 


A.  MATTESOti. 


\ 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $r, 600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook ;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross,  of  Fulton ;  and  D.  P.  Bush,, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson's  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
rirtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


gress, under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op 
position  to  tlie  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  "  Anti-Nebraska  "  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "Anti-Nebraska  " 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  fewballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrai, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson 's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  1855  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote.of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  Matleson's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $137,818.079  to  $349,957,272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  les,s  than  400  to 
about  3,000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  mare  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrip,  amount- 
ing to  $224,182.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  ISangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He  died  in   the  winter  of  1872-3,  at  Chicago. 


UBRARY 

OF  THE 

'JK.'VERSITY  OF  ILLINO/S 


GO  VEKNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


-*—*<- 


I 


I  LLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  -was  born 
3  April  25,  1811,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest,  God-fearing  people, 
who  reared  their  children  under  the  daily 
example  of  industiy  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
he  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
anew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  local  notoriety.  It  soon  came  to  be  under- 


stood  that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  r84o  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  James, 


152 


WILLIAM  H.  BISSELL. 


of  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  him  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  the 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  politician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 
party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson,  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  up 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  T\vo  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light, 
implicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.  (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1859  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned,  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  exposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  18, 
1860,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  his 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  he  hart  been  a  member  since  1854. 


T 


tIBRARY 

OF  THE 

Mf'VERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


-W 


VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'55 


iiOHN  WOOD,  Governor  1860-1,  and 
the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Sempro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Crause,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  languages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  1818,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown. 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  1821  he  visited  "the  Bluffs"  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall  (1822)  erected  near  the  river  a  small  cabin, 


18  x  20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  which 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  the 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  a  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages- and  as  yet 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!" 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  a 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  ?iewspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
County.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but  four  adult  male  residents  and  half 

•» 


JOHN  WOOD. 


that  number  of  females.  Sinoe  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  1860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  1860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
Illinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  the  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nation  from  destruction. 

In  1 86 1  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washington,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  he  was  appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  I37th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  witli 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. ' 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  and  "Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise ;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughter  of  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  1863,  and  in 
June,  1865,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
1880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Till  son;  Daniel  C.,  who  married  Mary  J. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'59 


ICHARD  YATES,  the  "War 
Governor,"  1861-4,  was  born 
Jan.  1.8,  1818,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio  River,  at  Warsaw, 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.  His  father 
moved  in  '1831  to  Illinois,  and 
afier  stopping  for  a  time  in 
Springfield,  setiled  at  Island 
Grove,  Sangamon  County.  Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.  Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville, 
where,  in  1837,  he  graduated  with 
first  honors.  He  chose  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din  being  his  instructor.  After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  with  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared  in  the  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West,  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
the  party  of  his  idol.  In  1840  he  engaged  with  great 
ardor  in  the  exciting  "hard  cider"  campaign  for 
Harrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
tory that  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
extending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
n  jrth  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
the  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
ular man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Ccrro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  who  had 
beaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position, 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  was 
elected.  Two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates'  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  200  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  1860  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.  Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman,  of  DuPage  County,  was  nominated  for 
Lieutenant  Governor.  This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by  the  great  whirlpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated  J.  C.  Allen  of 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ro?s, 
of  Fulton  County,  fdr  Lieutenant  Governor.  The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.  After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the  election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and  Mr.  Allen  159,253.  Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 

Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 


f. 

It 


1 60 


RICHARD    YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism ;  and  his  special  message 
in  1865  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  fur  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages 0:1  political  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1862,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  position  that 
the  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
had  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
r/;vcreign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "  happiness, 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Constitution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions ;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  of  adjourning  sine  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !"  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  firs',  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  A  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmacluke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  the   Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which  office  he  continued   until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  2yth  of  November  following. 
^ 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  IU.INO/S 


r 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Rwhard  J;  Ogles 


SSii^lCHARl)  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
ernor 1865-8,  and  re-elected 
in  1872  and  1884,  was  born 
July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
Ky., — the  State  which  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eight  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
prenticeship as  a  mechanic,  working  six  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field,  with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
on  the  breaking  oat  of  the  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
1849,  he  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  Eldorado,  driving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 

«• 


pany  of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  1856  he  visited  Europe, 
Asia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  no.uinee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  1860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate ;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  was  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo ;  in  April  he  was  promoted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


t. 


164 


RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  this 
day.  On  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  gillantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  i6th,Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  fro  n  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinq  lished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  follow- 
ing, to  coart-martial  a  id  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  wli.n  he  returned  home. 
The  Republican,  or  U  lion,  State  Convention  of 

1864  was   held  at  Springfield,   May   25,   when   Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  of  Sanga- 
mon,   and    John   M.    Palmer,  of  Macoupin.     Wra. 
Brass,  of  Chicago,    was   nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.      On  the  Democratic   State  ticket   were 
James  C.   Robinson,  of  ('.lark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.     The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  b.xli  th,j  Legislature   and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  17,  1865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  hj  ne  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  six 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were  the   election   of  ex-Gov.    Yutes   to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  13111 
amend. nent  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.      This   session    also    signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  'i  >torious  "  black  laws,"  part 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since   1819.     Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature.    But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,   granted    in     1859  for  25   years,   and   now 
sought  to  be  extended   99  years.     As   this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  ov~r  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he,  deemed  it   useless  further  to 
attempt   to   check  their  headlong  career.     At   this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest   was   perfected,  unless   we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867   was  still   more   productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.     Many  omnibus  bills  were 
psoposad,  and  some  passed.     The  contests  over  the 
location  of  the   Industrial  College,  the  Capital,  the 


Southern    Penitentiary,  and   the  canal   enlargement 
and   Illinois   River  improvement,  dominated  every 
thing  else. 

During  the  year  1872,  it  became  evident  that  if 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Gustavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
35,334  to  56,174, — the  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  by  their  having  an  old-time  Whig  and 
Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  'According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  1879,  having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1884  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  "  stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
ple elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  joint 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
party  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  well 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
Ardent  in  feeling  and  si rongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  jovial 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  '.it most;  with  frequent  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  with  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphasis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure. 


T 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

DIVERSITY  OF  ILLIMOIS 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


n,7 


J  O  UN  M.  PA  L  HER 


->!  4- 


•:OHN  Me  AULEY  PALMER,  Gov- 
ernor 1869-72,  v/as  born  on 
Engle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky  , 
Sept.  13,  1817.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
a.  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  \vas  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
1 8  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

During    the    summer  of    1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then   making  his 


ea.ly  aptitude. 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  law,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
linville,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  wou!d  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  In 
1847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con- 
vention, where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1852  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slavery 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op- 
position to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise; 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  party 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  the 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuing 
a  circular  to  that  effect.  A  few  weeks  afterward, 


168 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nomi- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  electe  I.  The  following  winter 
he  put  in  nomination  for  the  United  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  him  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  .their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  1860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
141)1  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  ro;  at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General ;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers. 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  i4th 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmar  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peoria  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
persistently  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  State's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  f  >r 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimately  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile  ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "tax-grabbing  law"  to  pay  r^ilror.i  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  riew  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution"  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  1871,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers  's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles- 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament.  He 
has  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  his 
habits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manners 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  principles 
of  statesmanship. 


•*. 


UBRARY 

OF  THE 

UK!VEflSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


•Mr-* 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


• ;  i1 .'  i1 ;  v  ;  i1 ;  V  ;  v  ,•,' ..•.,'..•  i'.;'y..' ,' .-  .< ;v ;:.:/!  •..',  •.',•.',  •, ',  •,.•,  •. ',  •.  <,:  •,  :>,  v,  •.  v.  ',••..',  •.  • 

t)*"5*"" 


OHN  LOWRiE  BEVER- 
IDGE, Governor  187  3-6,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1824.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
idge. His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Beveridge,  be- 
fore their  marriage  emigrated 
from  Scotland  just  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  in 
Washington  County.  His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.  His  mother's  parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "was 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  83  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "Asso- 
ciate Church,"  a  seceding  Presbyterian  body  of 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school ;  and  so  rigid 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  igth 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  was  in  his  i8th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fall  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  his  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  n  it  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40  in  money  started  South  to  seek  his  fortune. 


t .  172 


JOHN  L.  BEVRRIDGE. 


Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence,  he  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught,  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, 1847,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children,  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

In  the  fall  of  1849,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  little  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  u[>on  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
law,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1861,  his  law  partner,  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  cf 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
111.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  18,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  n,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
iintil  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles  and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days' 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system. 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  rec/uittd  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  i7th  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  of 
1866  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  1870,  he  practiced 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  his 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 1871,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby  ;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  21,  1873  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large,.  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge 's  administration  were: 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  tli  :  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "  Haines"  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov. 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  finn  of  Bever- 
idge &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  i,i  commercial 
paper  at  7 1  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  iSSi,  lie  has  also  been 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer:  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  11.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


f 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

DIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


t 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


i7S     ,  L 


M.   CULLOM. 


HELBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor 1877-83,  is  the  sixth  child 
of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  born  Nov.  22,  1829,111 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  [being  very 
dee))  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
t'ue  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
capital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.  He  died  about 

'873- 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school  as  he  had 
opportunity  during  the  winter.  Within  this  time, 
however,  he  spent  several  months  teachim*  «chool, 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  ox  team  for  the  neighbors.  With  the  money  ob- 
tained by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County; 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopeless  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  he  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer ;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  foi 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  Peoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained  his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  Anti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1856  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
ties. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.  Practicing 


,76 


SHELB  Y  M.    CULLOM. 


law  until  1860,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1861,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  party 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  'President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Cnarles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.  He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  enteied  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  the  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  John  T.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4,103!  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories ; 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
placed  in  nomination  Lewis  Steward,  a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  for  the  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  time  was 
about  27,000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again 
became  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  iSSi.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lom was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
States  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

As  a  practitioner  of  law  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  at  Spring- 
field ;  and  he  has  also  been  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
12,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
two  daughters;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

-.''."VCRSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'79    ,  . 


*3gMM3MHRMHM?4KMHK4MN<4KH 

f  ©Ira  M.  fitafiai 

L  V     \         V  (•  I 


Mie4KMHMIM^ 


OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
TON, Governor  1883-5,  was 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Richwoud,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
cf  Rev.  Wm.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMorris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun  County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township,  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
2 1  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  paying  for  the  land  and 
making  a  comforta^1*  home.  John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  be  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  Much  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "  buckled  to ''  and  perse- 
vered in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  1860  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient ;  but  when 
they  offered  themselves  for  the  war,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  he 
attended  an  academy  at  Henry,  Marshall  County; 


•fr- 


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,    i8o 


JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  1415!  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  loo-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 

The  following  winter,  1864-5,  Mr.  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1865-7,  he 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  lime  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  1883,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  Executive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  1871,  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  Win.  G.  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part  "  on  the  stump  " 
in  the  campaign,  for  the  success  of  his  party,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
Greenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel- 
lany ;  and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 
\  i  ^_ 


elect  John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medic.al  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  agair'1:  .  , 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  pe^ 
tentiary,  which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  sessior 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President pr o  tern. 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  was  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  Wabash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  32d  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  1883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clair  and  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 
1884,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  was  John 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  Arthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr 
Elaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  a*  Governor  expired  Ja;:.  30, 
r885,  when  the  great  favorite  "  Dick  "  Oglesby  was 
inaugurated. 


ZZinois. 


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'-» 


COLES   COUNTY. 


183  t  , 


INTRODUCTORY. 


OLES  COUNTY,  prior  to  its 
organization,  which  occurred 
in  1830,  had  been  attached 
to  Clark.  It  was  christened , 
in  honor  of  Edward  Coles, 
who  was  elected  Governor 
of  Illinois  in  1822,  and  who 
was  one  of  the  most  noble  and  worthy 
men  who  ever  occupied  that  high  po- 
sition. Gov.  Coles  was  a  Virginian  by 
birth  and  a  large  slave-owner,  and  when 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois  he  brought  his 
slaves  with  him.  Upon  becoming  a 
citizen  of  this  State  he  liberated  all  of 
them  and  gave  each  head  of  a  family 
among  them  160  acres  of  land.  At  the  time  of  the 
organization  of  Coles  it  embraced  the  territory 
now  forming  Douglas  and  Cumberland  Counties. 

Coles  County  is  situated  in  latitude  40  north,  and 
longitude  11  west  from  Washington,  embracing 
about  500  square  miles,  and  divided  into  thirteen 
townships.  Its  general  surface  is  undulating,  but 
there  are  some  parts  of  it  which  are  broken,  yet  not 
to  that  extent  as  to  be  regarded  hilly.  Its  eleva- 
tion is  about  800  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico.  The  soil,  which  is  rich,  especially  the 
prairies,  is  well  drained  by  the  Embarras,  Kaskaskia 
and  Kickapoo  Rivers,  and  numerous  other  little 
water  courses.  The  county  is  liberally  timbered 
and  contains  many  flue  groves. 

Like  most  of  the  counties  of  Illinois,  Coles'  first 


inhabitants  were  Indians.  At  one  time  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  State  their  wigwams  were  numerous 
and  their  camp-fires  left  but  a  few  groves  unlighted 
by  night.  The  first  white  people  to  settle  in  the 
county,  who  came  in  1824,  were  John  Parker  and 
Samuel  Kellogg  with  their  families,  in  all  fourteen. 
John  Parker  erected  the  first  cabin,  which  was  lo- 
cated in  what  is  now  Hutton  Township,  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Embarras,  and  opposite  to  where 
Blakeman's  Mill  was  in  after  years  set  up.  These 
pioneers  were  soon  followed  by  many  others  and  it 
was  not  long  before  the  county  had  quite  a  re- 
spectable population. 

Among  the  early  settlers  in  Coles  County  were 
Thomas  Lincoln,  father  of  President  Lincoln,  and 
Dennis  F.  Hanks,  who  was  first  cousin  to  Abraham 
Lincoln's  mother.  They  moved  here  from  Macon 
County  in  the  fall  of  1831,  and  located  near  Goose 
Neck  Prairie,  in  what  is  now  Pleasant  Grove  Town- 
ship. The  early  life  of  Abraham  Lincoln  is  well 
known  by  the  settlers  here.  His  father  erected  a 
cabin  on  his  claim,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
Jan.  15,  1851,  and  was  buried  in  the  little  Garden 
Churchyard  near  Farmington,  where  a  few  years 
ago  a  monument  was  erected  to  his  memory,  by  his 
grandson,  Robert  T.  Lincoln.  His  second  wife, 
who  survived  him  several  years,  was  buried  by  his 
side.  Dennis  Hanks  took  up  a  farm  near  Mr. 
Lincoln's,  where  he  lived  for  about  two  years  when 
he  moved  to  Charleston.  He  became  quite  con- 
spicuous in  the  country  at  one  time  as  the  companion 


T 


184 


COLES   COUNTY. 


of  young  Abraham  Lincoln  and  one  who  taught  him 
to  read,  and  subsequently  (in  1876)  as  the  exhibitor 
of  the  celebrated  Lincoln  log  cabin.  He  is  a  man  of 
the  old  type,  honest  and  positive  in  his  nature,  and 
has  many  interesting  remembrances  still  held  by  his 
good  memory  of  the  great  President.  He  lives  at 
Charleston,  surrounded  by  his  children  and  grand- 
children, in'  his  eighty  ninth  year,  and  remarkably 
preserved  in  all  his  faculties. 

In  1831  the  county  seat  was  located  and  the 
name  was  called  Charleston.  Here  a  good  court- 
house was  completed  in  1835,  which  has  since  been 
remodeled.  What  is  an  unusual  thing  for  counties, 
Coles  has  had  no  county  seat  contests,  nor  any 
change  in  its  county  seat  location. 

The  early  settlers  of  Coles  did  not  lack  for  re- 
ligious instruction,  and  that  of  a  solid,  substantial 
character.  Its  pioneer  was  a  preacher  and  of  the 
"hard-shell"  Baptist  order.  This  society  was  fol- 
lowed by  many  others,  and  the  people  now  are  well 
supplied  with  places  of  worship.  Schools  were  early 
established  in  the  county,  but  the  buildings  were 
rude  structures  and  the  system  was  imperfect. 
When  the  present  free  school  system  was  adopted, 
the  people  of  Coles  earnestly  interested  themselves 
in  providing  for  the  education  of  their  children, 
which  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  good  schools 
throughout  the  county.  The  people  were  alive  to 
the  benefits  of  railroad  transportation  and  early  in- 
terested themselves  in  having  the  county  traversed 
by  good  lines.  The  first  to  complete  its  track 
through  the  county  was  the  St.  Louis,  Alton  & 
Terre  Haute  (now  forming  part  of  the  Bee  Line), 
which  was  during  the  latter  part  of  1855.  Aboutthe 
Istof  January,  1856,  the  Illinois  Central  ran  its  first 
passenger  train  through  Mattoon,  from  Chicago  to 


Cairo.  It  would  be  a  great  error  to  think  of  those 
lines  as  we  would  of  the  present  almost  perfect 
system  of  railroads.  The  tracks  were  laid  with 
strap  iron,  the  coaches  were  crude  in  construction, 
and  the  locomotives  were  weak  in  power.  Often 
the  neighboring  farmers  were  'called  on  to  assist 
with  fence  rails,  a  weary  train  up  a  grade.  Other 
lines  have  since  been  completed — the  Toledo,  St. 
Louis  &  Kansas  City,  the  Peoria,  Decatur  & 
Evansville  and  the  Illinois  Midland — which  give 
to  the  county  splendid  transportation  facilities. 

Coles  is  chiefly  an  agricultural  county,  its  prin- 
cipal products  being  corn  and  broom  corn.  In  the 
latter  product  it  stands  ahead  of  any  county  in  the 
United  States.  Considerable  attention  is  also  paid 
to  stock,  and  some  splendid  pure  blooded  stock  can 
be  seen  in  the  county. 

Underlying  the  surface  at  different  depths  are  ex- 
tensive coal  beds  of  a  very  good  quality  of  bitumi- 
nous coal,  some  of  which  have  been  opened  and  are 
being  worked  with  profit. 

There  are  three  thriving  towns  in  the  county — 
Charleston,  Mattoon,  and  Oakland.  There  are  sev- 
eral other  little  villages,  some  of  which  are  grow- 
ing slowly.  The  population  of  the  county  is  now 
about  30.000,  and  it  is  steadily  increasing.  The 
northern  portion  of  the  county  is  under  splendid 
cultivation,  and  a  more  desirable  farming  country 
could  hardly  be  found,  while  the  southern  part  con- 
tains many  fine  and  well  cultivated  farms. 

The  original  settlers  were  chiefly  from  Kentucky, 
Virginia  and  Indiana.  The  present  population'  is 
composed  of  these  and  their  descendants,  those 
coming  in  since  from  the  Northern  States,  and  some 
from  foreign  lands.  They  are,  in  the  main,  an  in- 
telligent, industrious  and  thrifty  people. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

'JKfVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


187 


-.0^-0-- 


RLANDO  B.  FICKLIN,  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and 
useful  citizens  who  ever 
honored  Coles  County,  and 
one  who  in  many  respects 
did  more  in  its  behalf  than 
anj'  other  man,  was  born  Dec.  16, 
1808.  He  was  the  son  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  Kenner  (Williams) 
Ficklin,  natives  of  Virginia,  but  who 
removed  to  Kentucky,  where  their 
son  Orlando  was  born.  He  received 
a  practical  education  in  the  schools 
of  Kentucky  and  Missouri,  whither 
his  parents  subsequently  removed,  and  passed  one 
year  in  Princeton  College,  Calclwell  Co.,  Ky.  tie 
commenced  the  study  of  law  at  Potosi,  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Mo.,  and  during  the  winter  of  1829 
and  1830,  prosecuted  his  legal  studies  in  Transyl- 
vania University,  and  in  the  law  office  of  Gen. 
Robert  Karris,  at  St.  Louis.  In  the  spring  of  1830 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair 
Co.,  111.,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in 
Mt.  Carmel,  Wabash  Count}'. 

In  1832  Mr.  Ficklin  entered  Capt.  Jordan's  com- 
pany, and  went  to  the  Black  Hawk  War,  serving  as 
Quartermaster,  and  in  the  following  year  he  was 
elected  Colonel  of  the  militia  of  Wabash  County, 
and  shortly  afterward  began  his  political  career, 
which  was  one  of  the  most  honorable  and  brilliant 
enjoyed  by  any  of  his  contemporaries.  In  August, 
1834,  he  was  elected  to  the  Lower  House  of  the 
Legislature,  and  chosen  by  that  body  as  States  At- 


torney for  the  Wabash  Circuit.  In  1837  he  removed 
to  Charleston,  and  the  ensuing  year  represented 
Coles  County  in  the  Legislature.  In  1842  he  was 
again  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  the  following 
year  was  made  the  Member  of  Congress  from  the 
Wabash  District,  and  was  re-elected  in  the  years 
of  1844  and  1846.  At  the  close  of  this  long  public 
career  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  Charleston, 
but  his  services  were  considered  too  valuable  to  the 
public  to  be  permitted  to  lead  a  quiet  life,  and  in 
1850  he  was  returned  to  Congress.  In  1856  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  Convention  at  Cincinnati, 
which  nominated  James  Buchanan  for  President,  and 
in  1860  was  a  member  of  the  National  Convention 
held  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  In  1864  he  was'a  delegate 
to  the  National  Convention  held  at  Chicago,  which 
nominated  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  for  President, 
and  in  1869-70  represented  the  counties  of  Coles, 
Monltrie  and  Douglas  in  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention.  In  1 878  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  was 
Elector  for  the  State  at  large  three  terms;  the  last 
was  when  Cleveland  was  elected  President. 

The  Hon.  O.  B.  Ficklin  was  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  public  duties,  which  were  heaped  upon 
him,  and  possessed  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his 
political  constituents.  He  devoted  his  time  and 
talents  to  the  service  of  the  State,  with  a  rare,  spirit 
of  devotion  and  unselfishness.  After  a  long  and 
useful  life,  chequered  by  many  national  vicissitudes, 
he  passed  away  from  the  busy  scenes  of  earth 
May  5,  1885.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  the  publish- 
ers place  the  portrait  of  this  lamented  and  honored 


188 


COLES   COUNTY. 


citizen  on  an  accompanying  page,  the  first  in  the 
volume,  a  fitting  place  for  the  man  represented. 

Mrs.  O.  B.  Ficklin,  Postmistress  of  Charleston, 
and  the  widow  of  the  late  Orlando  B.  Ficklin,  is  the 
daughter  of  W.  T.  and  Nancy  (Lane)  Colquitt;  the 
former  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Geor- 
gia. Her  paternal  grandparents,  Henry  and  Nancy 
(Holt)  Colquitt,  were  natives  of  Virginia  and  of 
English  descent.  They  removed  to  Georgia  when 
her  father  was  two  years  of  age.  Her  maternal 
grandparents  were  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Hill) 
Lane;  the  former  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
and  the  latter  of  South  Carolina,  and  her  great- 
grandfather, Richard  Lane,  was  a  native  of  Virginia. 

Henry  Colquitt,  who  was  a  slave-holder  under 
the  old  regime,  owned  an  extensive  plantation  in 
Virginia,  as  well  as  one  in  Georgia  after  his  re- 
moval to  that  State.  A  family  of  three  children 
was  born  to  him,  as  follows:  Sarah  H.,  the  wife  of 
Edmond  Randell,  a  resident  of  Georgia ;  W.  T.  and 
John.  W.  T.  Colquitt  was  born  in  1807,  and  grad- 
uated with'  honors  from  Princeton  College  before 
he  attained  his  majority.  He  subsequently  studied 
law  in  Georgia,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  was  brilliant  and  successful  in  his  profession  and 
was  made  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  before  reach- 
ing the  age  of  twenty-five.  He  was  interested  in 
all  affairs  of  national  importance,  and  served  several 
years  as  Member  of  Congress.  He  was  enterprising 
and  successful  in  business,  and  became  an  extensive 
land-owner.  His  death  occurred  in  1857,  and  his 
wife  died  in  1840.  Only  three  children  of  their 
family  are  now  living,  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
Alfred  H.,  who  was  the  Governor  of  Georgia  eight 
years,  and  is  now  United  States  Senator  from  that 
State ;  Mrs.  O.  B.  Ficklin,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ; 
Emily  L.,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Carter,  a  wealthy 
planter  of  Dalton,  Ga.,  and  Payton  H.,  who  was  a 
Brigadier  General  in  the  Civil  War,  and  was  killed 
at  Chattanooga. 

Mrs.  Ficklin  has  a  family  of  three  children  now 
living,  whose  record  is  as  follows :  Alfred  C.,  an 
attorney,  residing  at  Tuscola,  Douglas  Co.,  111.,  and 
who  married  Miss  Emma  Weiss,  has  three  sons — 
Orlando  B.,  Otto  W.  and  Walter  C. ;  Joseph  C.,  an 
attorney,  residing  at  Paris,  Edgar  Co.,  111.,  married 
to  Miss  Susan  Thomas,  of  Chicago,  and  has  one 


son,  James  R. ;  Orlando  B.,  an  attorney,  residing  in 
Charleston,  married  to  Miss  Mary  Wright,  has  three 
children — Joseph  C.,  Mary  C.  and  Samuel  W.  Mrs. 
Ficklin,  as  the  wife  of  a  distinguished  politician, 
has  had  much  experience  in  public  affairs.  She 
possesses  tact,  good  judgment  and  rare  business 
ability,  which  render  her  well  fitted  for  the  position 
she  holds,  which  was  one  of  the  first  appointments 
made  by  President  Cleveland  in  1885.  Mrs.  Fick- 
lin is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  an 
accomplished  lad}-,  and  enjoys  the  highest  esteem 
of  the  entire  community  in  which  she  lives,  and  of 
which  she  is  a  very  important  factor. 


REEN  ARTERBURN.  The  farm  owned  by 
this  gentleman  forms  one  of  the  prettiest 
spots  in  the  landscape  of  Ashmore  Town- 
ship.  The  dwelling  with  its  out-buildings,  is  located 
on  a  rise  of  ground,  and  the  pasture  and  grain 
fields  stretch  away  on  either  side  forming  a  picture 
which  is  delightful  to  look  upon.  The  grounds 
around  the  residence,  which  are  ample  and  well 
kept,  are  planted  with  choice  shade  trees,  and  in 
the  rear  is  a  fine  carp  pond  fed  by  living  springs, 
and  stocked  with  an  abundance  of  the  finny  tribe 
procured  from  the  Government  in  1886.  The 
farm  contains  160  acres,  finely  cultivated,  and  the 
residence  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  in  the  town- 
ship, while  the  barn  and  stables  correspond  in  every 
respect  with  the  main  building. 

•Mr.  Arterburn  is  a  native  of  the  Prairie  State, 
his  birth  taking  place  in  Edgar  County,  Dec.  26, 
1834.  His  parents,  John  and  Mahulda  (Watkins) 
Arterburn,  were  natives  of  Jefferson  County,  Ky. 
The  former,  born  Feb.  28,  1804,  is  still  living  and 
a  resident  of  Edgar  County,  where  he  owns  a  fine 
property  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  that 
section.  He  votes  with  the  Republican  party  and 
is  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Christian  Church.  The 
mother,  who  was  born  Jan.  22,  1808,  departed  this 
life  at  the  homestead  in  Edgar  County  in  the  spring 
of  1875.  She  was  a  lady  greatly  beloved  by  her 
family  and  friends,  a  faithful  and  loving  wife  and 
mother,  and  one  who  performed  all  her  duties  in 
life  with  a  conscientious  fidelity  which  has  left  its 


t. 


COLES    COUNTY. 


189 


impress  upon  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  her.  The 
household  circle  included  eight  children,  namely, 
James,  John,  Allen,  Green,  Ann,  Norben,  Henry, 
and  Mary,  now  deceased. 

The  Arterburn  family  is  of  German  descent,  the 
earliest  representatives  in  this  country  settling  first 
in  the  Blue  Grass  regions,  where  they  built  up  for 
themselves  good  homes  and  a  name  of  which  their 
descendants  may  justly  be  proud.  Green,  of  our 
sketch,  remained  a  member  of  the  parental  house- 
hold until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  was  then 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Isabella  Kester,  a 
native  of  his  own  county,  who  was  born 
June  16,  11S38.  Their  wedding  took  place  on 
Christmas  Day  in  1S55,  and  they  began  life 
together  amid  the  surroundings  of  a  neat  little 
home  in  Kansas  Township,  Edgar  County.  After 
the  birth  of  four  children,  the  wife  and  mother  de- 
parted this  life  in  the  summer  of  1878.  Their 
eldest  child,  Alice  A.,  was  born  Dec.  9,  1856,  and 
married  David  Ross,  a  merchant  of  Kansas;  Lyman 
T.,  born  Feb.  3,  1859,  married  Miss  Clara  Boyer; 
John  A.  was  born  June  13,  1867,  and  Mariam  E. 
in  November,  1869. 

Mr.  Arterburu  was  the  second  time  married, 
March  10,  1880,  to  Miss  Katie  Epperson,  a  native 
of  this  county,  born  in  1847,  and  the  daughter  of 
Green  and  Tkirza  (Woods)  Epperson,  of  Kentucky. 
Mr.  Epperson  was  born  in  1803  and  died  in  1855, 
after  having  spent  his  entire  life  as  a  farmer  and 
stock-dealer.  His  wife,  Thirza,  born  in  1807,  is 
still  living,  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  and 
a  resident  of  Ashmore  Township.  The  nine  chil- 
dren of  the  parental  household  were  named  re- 
spectively, Burtis  C.,  Cassius,  Clemens,  Sidney, 
Rhodes,  Green  L.,  Martha,  Joseph  and  John  G. 
The  latter  is  a  practicing  physician  of  the  old 
school,  and  a  resident  of  Edgar  County;  he  was 
well  educated,  and  graduated  from  the  medical  de- 
partment of  San  Francisco  College.  Our  subject  by 
this  latter  marriage  has  one  child,  a  bright  little 
daughter,  Jessie  T.,  born  Feb.  16,  1885. 

Mr.  Arterburn  keeps  himself  well  posted  upon 
current  events.  As  soon  as  old  enough  to  exercise 
the  rights  of  a  free  American  citizen,  lie  identified 
himself  with  the  Republican  party,  in  whose  princi- 
ples he  still  thoroughly  believes,  and  which  he 


honestly  supports  by  his  voice  and  vote  as  oppor- 
tunity occurs.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arterburn  are 
connected  with  the  Christian  Church,  in  the  doc- 
trines of  which  Mr.  A.  was  reared  from  early  child- 
Flood  by  his  excellent  parents.  He  is  filling  worth- 
ily his  niche  in  life,  and  in  all  respects  deporting 
himself  as  an  honest  man  and  a  ood  citizen. 


OHN  B.  BEAVERS  and  his  twin  brother, 
Samuel  M.,  were  the  eldest  children  of  John 
W.  and  Mary  A.  (Madden)  Beavers,  a  sketch 
of  whose  lives  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
ALBUM.  The  brothers  were  born  in  Hampshire 
County,  Va.,  Nov.  3,  1842,  and  have  continued  to 
live  together  since  that  time. 

During  his  childhood  and  youth  our  subject,  with 
his  brother,  attended  the  district  schools,  and  as 
soon  as  his  services  could  be  made  available  they 
were  utilized  on  the  farm.  His  limited  education 
was  completed  in  Washington,  Iowa,  where  he 
attended  the  public  schools  six  months,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  on  the  home  farm  until  thirty-four 
years  of  age.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1877,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Catharine  J.  Bruce, 
who  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  Ohio,  in  1845, 
and  was  the  youngest  child  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(King)  Bruce,  natives  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Beavers 
after  his  marriage,  continued  two  years  on  the  old 
homestead  and  then  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
on  section  27,  Humbolt  Township,  which  he  occu- 
pied two  j'ears,  when  he  sold  out  and  purchased 
another  eighty  acres  on  section  2.  Four  years 
later  he  removed  to  the  house  of  his  brother  on 
section  35,  renting  his  own  land.  On  the  5th  of 
July,  1879,  his  wife,  Catharine,  after  having  been 
his  companion  but  a  little  over  two  short  years, 
passed  away,  leaving  him  with  two  children  — 
Frederick  and  Blanche.  Mrs.  Beavers  was  a  lady 
greatly  esteemed  by  her  friends  and  acquaintances, 
and  had  been  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  from  childhood.  Her  parejits  were 
of  Scotch-  Irish  ancestry  and  the  descendants  in  a 
direct  line  from  the  family  of  Sir  Robert  Bruce  ol 
Scotland.  Mrs.  Beavers  was  proud  of  her  ancestry 
as  she  had  a  right  to  be,  and  her  father's  family  in- 


t. 


190 


COLES   COUNTY. 


eluded  some  of  the  most  worthy  representatives  of 
the  great  patriot  and  King  of  Scotland.  Mr. 
Beavers  is  a  highly  respected  citizen,  unobtrusive 
in  his  character  and  mostly  engaged  with  his  own 
concerns.  Although  never  taking  any  active  part 
in  politics  and  especially  declining  to  become  an 
office-holder,  he  keeps  himself  well  posted  upon 
current  events  and  is  an  earnest  supporter  of  Dem- 
ocratic principles. 


*  ARRIET  BUCKLER,  the  widow  of  John 
Buckler,  who  was  formerly  one  of  the 
prominent  farmers  and  stock-growers  of 
East  Oakland  Township,  resides  on  her  late 
husband's  estate  on  section  4.  She  was  born  Oct. 
15,  1842,  in  Clark  County,  111.,  and  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Clarinda  (Craig)  Davis.  Her 
father  was  born  Dec.  30,  1817,  in  Kentucky.  He 
was  a  farmer  possessed  of  excellent  business  quali- 
fications and  had  acquired  considerable  wealth. 
During  his  life  lie  was  interested  in  promoting  the 
welfare  of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  was  a 
member.  His  first  marriage  took  place  in  1841, 
and  his  death  occurred  March  11,  1872.  His  wife 
was  born  in  1826,  and  died  in  1848.  By  the  first 
marriage  there  were  born  three  children  :  Harriet  ; 
Eliza  J.,  who  married  Mr.  D.  Campbell,  and  Isabell, 
who  died  in  1848.  Thomas  Davis  was  united  in 
marriage  a  second  time,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Lamb. 
Of  this  marriage  there  were  seven  children  born  — 
Martha  E.,  George  R.,  Julia  A.,  Emma  F.,  Susan 
C.,  Evalin  and  James  W. 

Harriet,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was  mar- 
ried to  John  T.  Buckler,  April  6,  1862.  The 
ceremony  was  performed  by  the  Rev.  John  Shields, 
pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Her  husband,  Mr. 
Buckler,  was  born  June  22,  1838,  in  Marion 
County,  Ky.,  and  died  Feb.  26,  1883,  after  an  ill- 
ness of  about  six  weeks.  He  was  brought  up  on 
his  father's  farm  in  Kentucky,  and  attended  the 
common  school  there  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and  first  located 
in  Edgar  County.  He  was  active  and  energetic, 
and  worked  so  successfully  by  the  month  until  his 
marriage,  that  he  was  then  able  to  purchase  eighty 


acres  of  land.  He  afterward  sold  this  property 
and  purchased  the  estate  of  200  acres  where 
his  widow  now  resides,  and  where  he  became 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  township  until  his 
death.  He  was  interested  in  educational  affairs 
and  held  the  office  of  School  Director.  For  thir- 
teen years  prior  to  his  death,  he  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  was  in  every  respect 
a  true  Christian  gentleman,  a  kind  and  affectionate 
husband,  beloved  by  his  neighbors  and  respected 
by  the  entire  community.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat.  He  left  a  family  of  five  children  to 
mourn  their  loss,  namely :  Rosaua,  born  May  8, 1863, 
married  William  Ilanner;  Richard  T.,  born  Oct. 
27.  1865;  Emily  J.,  Sept.  18,  1869;  Lorenzo  D., 
Dec.  29,  1871,  and  Nettie  V.,  May  27,  1878. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Buckler  is  highly  esteemed  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  she  is 
actively  interested.  Her  eldest  son,  who  now  rep- 
resents the  head  of  the  family,  assists  his  mother 
in  the  management  of  the  farm.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 


;ILLIAM  M.  BARR,  deceased,  was  a  native 
of  Loudoun  County,  Va.,  born  Aug.  17, 
1829,  and  was  the  son  of  Lot  and  Nancy 
Ann  (Chin)  Barr.  His  parents  removed  from  the 
Old  Dominion  to  Janesville,  Ohio,  when  he  was  but 
six  months  old. 

William  M.  Barr  was  a  painter  by  trade  and  fol- 
lowed his  occupation  in  Ohio  until  his  removal 
therefrom,  in  the  spring  of  1850.  Then,  accom- 
panied by  two  brothers,  he  migrated  to  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  success- 
fully for  a  number  of  years.  There  also  he  met 
and  married  Miss  Sarah  Ann,  youngest  child  of 
Enoch  and  Harriet  (Dexter)  Dole,  who  settled  in 
Terre  Haute  at  a  very  early  day.  The  young 
people  continued  their  residence  in  that  city,  and 
there  the  death  of  William  M.  Barr  occurred  May 
11,  1876. 

During  the  progress  of  the  late  war  Mr.  Barr  en- 
listed in  Co.  I,  16th  Ind.  Vol.  Inf.,  serving  until 
the  close  and  being  promoted  Orderly  Sergeant. 
In  1863  he  was  mounted  at  New  Orleans  and  from 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


191 


that  time  on  served  in  the  Mounted  Infantry.  He 
passed  through  the  Vicksburg  and  Red  River  cam- 
paigns, escaping  injury  although  participating  in 
some  of  the  hardest  fought  battles  of  those  cam- 
paigns. After  the  surrender  of  the  confederate 
army  he  was  mustered  out  with  his  comrades,  and 
returning  to  Terre  Haute  took  tip  his  trade  again 
and  remained  a  resident  of  that  city  until  his  death. 
He  was  Republican  in  politics  but  took  no  part  in 
public  affairs,  otherwise  than  to  perform  the  duties 
of  an  American  citizen  at  the  polls.  Mrs.  Barr, 
after  the  death  of  her  husband,  came  to  Illinois  and 
purchased  120  acres  of  improved  land  in  Mattoon 
Township,  this  county,  upon  which  she  located, 
with  her  family  of  nine  children.  These  were 
Charles  H.,  Joseph  L.,  Harriett  A.,  Frank  D., 
Fannie  M.,  Chattie  D.,  Sarah,  Carrie  G.  and  Edith 
W.  All  are  living  and  are  at  home  with  their 
mother.  Her  three  sons,  who  are  carrying  on  the 
farm,  are  principally  engaged  in  grain-raising. 
The  homestead  thus  built  up  is  one  of  the  most 
comfortable  in  Mattoon  Township,  and  the  family 
are  held  in  the  highest  respect.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Barr  identified-  themselves  with  the  Universalist 
Church  years  ago. 


J~~    F.  REEL,  of  the  firm  of  Curtis  &  Reel,  deal- 
ers in  general  merchandise  in  Oakland,   is  a 
native    of   this    county,    born    in    Hickory 
'    Township,  Oct.  12,  1856.     His  parents  were 
Dr.  Samuel  A.  and   Elizabeth   (Adams)  Reel,  the 
former  a  native  of  Gibson  County.  Ind.,  born  April 
22,   1836,  and  the  mother,  of  Coles  County,  111., 
born    April  21,    1836.     J.  F.  Reel,  of  this  sketch, 
spent  his  youth  and  boyhood  on   the  farm  of  his 
father  in  Coles  County,  and  attended  the  common 
schools  chiefly  during  the  winter  seasons,  until  at- 
taining his  majority. 

Our  subject  began  early  in  life  to  form  his  plans 
for  the  future,  and  after  he  had  laid  the  founda- 
tions for  a  home  of  his  own,  was  married  Oct.  15, 
1885,  to  Miss  Antoinette  Hackett.  Mrs.  R.  is 
also  a  native  of  this  county,  born  Dec.  13,  1859, 
and  the  daughter  of  George  F.  and  Angeline  Ilack- 
ett.  She  is  a  lady  of  high  culture  and  rare  accom- 


plishments, and  a  great  favorite  among  the  social 
circles  of  Oakland.  The  one  child  born  of  this 
union  is  a  daughter,  Lyda  J.,  who  came  to  the 
household  on  the  28th  of  June,  1887. 

Mr.  Reel  is  numbered  among  the  enterprising 
business  men  of  Oakland,  is  high-minded  and  hon- 
orable in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men,  and  by 
his  courteous  manner  and  straightforward  business 
methods  has  built  up  an  extensive  and  lucrative 
trade.  He  became  the  partner  of  Mr.  Curtis,  Jan. 
1,  1886.  The  firm  is  a  strong  one,  and  there  is  a 
prospect  of  a  future  before  them,  which  in  its  re- 
sults can  hardly  fail  to  be  satisfactory.  Mr.  Reel, 
politically,  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  Republican 
principles,  and  socially  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. Messrs.  Curtis  &  Reel  carry  a  well-selected 
stock  of  dry -goods  and  groceries,  and  their  business 
is  conducted  after  the  most  approved  methods. 


C.    BARN  US,  a    fanner    and 

stock-grower,  residing  on  section  25,  Ash- 
more  Township,  belongs  to  one  of  the  old 
fcjjpioneer  families  of  the  county,  and  was 
born  in  the  township  in  which  he  now  lives,  Aug. 
9,  1836.  He  is  the  son  of  Enos  and  Nancy  (Col- 
lett)  Barnes,  and  his  parents  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky and  North  Carolina  respectively.  Enos 
Barnes  was  of  Scotch  and  Irish  extraction,  born  in 
1785,  and  inherited  the  enterprise  and  courage  char- 
actistic  of  both  nationalities.  Previous  to  his 
marriage,  which  occurred  in  1830,  he  removed  to 
Indiana  and  subsequently  to  Coles  County,  111., 
where  he  entered  Government  land,  and  engaged 
in  farming.  He  bravely  encountered  the  difficul- 
ties and  privations  of  pioneer  life,  cultivated  and 
improved  his  land,  and  made  a  comfortable  home 
for  his  family  on  the  western  frontier.  The  wife 
who  had  shared  his  trials  through  many  years,  died 
in  1855,  at  the  age  of  fifty.  He  survived  her 
seventeen  years,  his  death  occurring  in  1872.  A 
family  of  nine  children  was  born  to  them  and  the 
record  is  as  follows:  Roann  Maria,  deceased,  was 
formerly  the  wife  of  L.  F.  Smith;  Temple  Ann, 
deceased,  was  formerly  the  wife  of  W.  S.  Childress; 
Granville  A.  married  Miss  Sarah  Welch,  and  both 


f 


192 


COLES    COUNTY. 


are  deceased  ;  Milton  W.  was  twice  married  ;  his 
first  wife  was  Mary  S.  Goodnight,  and  after  her 
death  he  married  Miss  Mattie  Hoffman.  Fountain 
H.  inarrred  Miss  Mary  Sackett;  Elizabeth  is  the 
wife  of  John  B.  Zimmerman;  Randolph  C.  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Emeline  is  the  wife  of 
Arthur  Welch;  Huston  M.  died  of  fever  while 
serving  in  the  Civil  War,  at  Alexandria,  Va 

Randolph  Barnes  was  married,  Oct.  19,  1870,  to 
Miss  Louisa  Ashmore.  Mrs.  Barnes  is  the  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Mary  (McClure)  Ashmore.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Tennessee  and  are  both 
deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnes  have  two  interest- 
ing children:  Gallic  J.,  born  May  19,  1874,  and 
Alvin  M.,  Jan.  23,  1877. 

In  response  to  the  call  of  his  country,  Mr. 
Barnes  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  F,  1st  Minn. 
Vol.  Inf.  He  served  three  years  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  and  fought  in  the  battles  of  Bull  Run, 
Fair  Oak,  and  in  the  deadly  conflict  at  Antietam. 
where  the  slain  were  numbered  by  thousands.  He 
also  took  part  in  many  other  minor  engagements, 
and  was  but  slightly  wounded  during  his  entire 
service.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  owns  a  fine  tract  of  well-cultivated 
land  containing  140  acres.  Mr.  Barnes  possesses 
good  business  qualifications,  and  is  a  highly 
esteemed  citizen  of  Jiis  township.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  In  poli- 
tics he  votes  for  the  success  of  the  Republican 
party. 


AVEY,  one  of  the  most  thorough 
and  progressive  farmers  of  Coles  County, 
owns  -and  occupies  a  quarter  section  of 
valuable  land  in  Humbolt  Township,  where 
he  is  principally  engaged  in  raising  grain  and 
broom  corn,  and  gives  considerable  attention  to 
the  breeding  of  fine  stock.  The  farm  buildings 
and  machinery  are  of  first-class  description,  and 
everything  about  the  premises  denotes  the  super- 
vision of  the  enterprising  agriculturist.  Like  many 
of  the  men  who  have  assisted  in  the  development 
of  Northern  Illinois,  the  early  years  of  Mr.  Avey 
were  spent  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  in 
County  Suffolk,  England,  where  his  birth  took 


place  Aug.  19,  1837.  He  was  the  fourth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children,  born  to  Richard  and  Mary 
(Wing)  Avey,  natives  of  the  same  county,  the 
father  a  son  of  Robert  Avey,  who  was  familiarly 
known  as  the  popular  inn-keeper  at  Kentford,  where 
ho  had  long  lived,  and  where  he  sp"nt  his  declin- 
ing years.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  also 
born  in  Sussex  County,  where  her  father  followed 
farming  all  his  life. 

Mr.  Avey  received  a  good  education,  completing 
his  studies  in  the  academy  at  New  Market,  where 
he  finished  his  classical  course  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een years.  Soon  afterward,  in  1855,  he  embarked 
from  London  on  the  ship  Oregon,  an  English  sail- 
ing-vessel, accompanied  by  several  of  his  acquaint- 
ances. After  -a  fair  voyage  of  seven  weeks  they 
landed  in  New  Orleans,  where  a  few  days  late/  all 
proceeded  North  to  Ottawa,  111.,  and  our  subject 
for  two  years  thereafter  was  principally  engaged  in 
gardening.  In  the  meantime  he  had  purchased 
forty  acres  of  prairie  land  in  Humbolt  Township, 
this  county,  of  which  he  took  possession  in  the 
spring  of  1858.  He  built  a  house  and  made  other 
improvements,  and  on  the  31st  of  May,  1858,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Celia  Oakland,  and 
not  long  afterward  introduced  his  bride  to  the 
home  which  he  had  prepared  for  her. 

Mrs.  Avey  was  the  fourth  child  of  Guner  A.  and 
Celia  (Oakland)  Oakland.  The  real  name  of  her 
father,  however,  was  Norton,  and  he  was  a  native  of 
Norway.  He  emigrated  to  America  with  his  wife 
at  an  early  day,  and  coming  to  Illinois  they  lo- 
cated on  a  tract  of  land  on  Indian  Creek,  in  La 
Salle  County,  where  Mr.  O.  built  up  a  good  farm, 
and  where  he  died,  July  5,  1887;  his  wife,  well  ad- 
vanced in  years,  still  occupies  the  home  place. 

Mr.  Avey  proceeded  with  the  improvements  he 
had  begun,  and  continued  the.  cultivation  of  the 
soil  until  he  was  enabled  to  exhibit  some  of  the 
finest  crops  in  the  Prairie  State.  The  household 
was  in  due  time  enlarged  by  the  birth  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  now  living,  namely, 
Mary  J.,  William  T.,  John  L.,  Maude  1.,  Newton 
R.,  Martha  C.  and  Oscar  L.  William  T.  married  Miss 
Minnie  McBride,  and  is  a  resident  of  Charleston, 
where  he  officiates  as  Deputy  Circuit  Clerk;  he  is 
a  well-educated  man  and  fully  competent  for  his 


COLES   COUNTY. 


193 


responsible  position ;  Mary  is  teaching  school  in 
Socorro,  N.  M.,  where  she  went  for  her  health  in 
1882,  and  is  being  greatly  benefited  by  the  milder 
climate  of  that  region.  The  others  are  at  home 
with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Avey  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
local  affairs  for  many  years  serving  as  Road  Com- 
missioner, School  Trustee  and  School  Director,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  active  promoters  of  those  meas- 
ures tending  to  the  moral  and  intellectual  advance- 
ment of  the  people.  He  meddles  little  with  politics, 
although  casting  his  vote  regularly  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  His  children  have  been  carefully 
reared  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Episcopal  Church5 
with  rwhich  nearly  all  the  members  of  the  family 
are  connected,  and  with  which  Mr.  A.  officiates  as 
Warden.  The  family  is  highly  respected  wherever 
known,  and  enjoys  the  society  of  the  best  people  of 
Hum  bolt  Township. 


ffi  AMES  ANDERSON  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
estate,  containing  155  acres  of  land,  located 
on  section  20,  Pleasant  Grove  Township. 
He  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Md., 
Dec.  25,  1825,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Mary 
(Rodgers)  Anderson,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Andrew  Anderson,  was  a  na- 
tive of  England,  and  emigrating  to  the  United 
States  early  in  life,  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  His 
maternal  grandparents  were  natives  of  the  North 
of  Ireland,  who,  after  their  arrival  in  this  country, 
were  likewise  among  the  early  settlers  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. After  his  marriage,  James  Anderson,  Sr.. 
removed  to  the  State  of  Maryland,  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Montgomery  County.  In  about  1832, 
the  family  removed  to  Gueruesey  County,  Ohio. 
It  was  before  the  days  of  railroads,  and  they  made 
the  long  and  weary  journey  overland,  camping 
out  for  the  night  in  the  open  country,  when  the 
weather  was  not  too  rough,  and  sometimes  seeking 
the  friendly  shelter  of  the  neighboring  farm  houses. 
In  the  pioneer  days,  each  one  was  obliged  to  do 
whatever  work  presented  itself,  and  James  Ander- 
son was  engaged  in  teaming  and  farming  until 
about  the  year  1837,  when  he  removed  to  Knox 
County,  of  the  same  State,  and  was  there  engaged 


in  farming  nearly  twenty  years;  he  then  removed 
to  Morrow  County,  where  the  remaining  years  of 
his  life  were  passed.  He  was  industrious  and  enter- 
prising in  business,  and  his  death  occurred  at  Iowa 
City,  Iowa,  whither  lie  had  gone  to  enter  land.  He 
was  a  successful  farmer,  and  at  his  death  was  en- 
abled to  leave  his  children  some  property.  His 
wife's  death  occurred  at  the  homestead  in  Ohio, 
several  years  prior  to  his  own.  Mr.  Anderson  was 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  but 
never  sought  political  preferment.  He  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  the  record  being  as  fol- 
lows: Ann  Eliza,  deceased,  formerly  the  wife  of 
Charles  Osborn;  Samuel,  a  resident  of  Monroe 
County,  Ohio ;  Lydia,  deceased,  formerly  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Knowles;  James,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Mary  E.,  deceased ;  William,  a  resident  of  Mahaska 
County,  Iowa;  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Charles  W.,  a 
resident  of  Mattoon,  and  Maria,  the  wife  of  Anson 
Conklin,  a  resident  of  Mahaska  County,  Iowa. 

James  Anderson,  Jr.,  grew  to  manhood  in  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  His  edu- 
cational advantages  were  necessarily  limited  to  the 
district  log  school-house  of  the  pioneer  days. 
Nevertheless,  he  obtained  much  practical  know- 
ledge, and  early  learned  the  details  of  systematic 
farming.  Dec.  27,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Lucinda  Knight,  the  daughter  of  Rena  and  Sarah 
(Hall)  Knight.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Maine, 
where  their  marriage  occurred.  They  subsequently 
removed  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Licking  County, 
where  they  engaged  in  farming,  and  made  their 
permanent  home  there  during  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  Their  family  consisted  of  sixteen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Anderson  was  the  youngest. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  record  is  as  follows:  Mary  Ann,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Dornblazer;  Columbia,  the  wife  of  Luther 
Lander;  William  H.;  Sarah  P.,  the  wife  of  Clarence 
Ferguson  ;  Emma,  the  wife  of  William  D.  Horton  ; 
Martha,  the  wife  of  Ralph  Jeffris,  and  Charles 
W.  married  Leulla  Brown. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Anderson  gave  his  atten- 
tion exclusively  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  Ohio, 


\  •     194 


COLES    COUNTY. 


until  1854,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Cumberland  County.  He  purchased  land  there  and 
remained  seven  years.  He  then  decided  to  change 
his  location,  and  in  the  spring  of  1862  came  to 
Coles  County,  where  he  rented  land  near  Mattoon. 
After  remaining  there  five  years,  he  purchased  133 
acres  of  his  present  farm.  The  land  was  all  im- 
proved, but  he  has  erected  substantial  buildings, 
and  the  appointments  of  his  farm  are  all  comfort- 
able, and  in  good  order.  He  has  added  some  land 
to  his  first  purchase,  and  now  owns  a  tract  contain- 
ing 155  acres. 

In  early  life,  Mr.  Anderson  served  one  year  in 
the  Mexican  War.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  until  after  the  Civil  War;  he  then  be- 
came a  Republican,  and  adhered  to  that  party 
twenty  years,  and  has  since  affiliated  again  with  the 
Democrats.  He  has  no  taste  for  public  life,  and 
when  requested,  has  always  refused  to  become  a 
candidate  for  any  local  office.  He  is  interested  in 
educational  affairs,  and  at  one  time  was  School 
Director.  His  family  were  formerly  connected 
with  the  Methodist  Church,  but  Mr.  and  Mrs.  An- 
derson have  been  for  several  years  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presb3'terian  Church. 


WILLIAM  Z.  ALLEN.  The  name  of  this 
gentleman  is  familiar  throughout  East  Oak- 
land Township  as  that  of  an  enterprising 
and  wide-awake  citizen,  whose  determination  to  set- 
tle down  in  this  section  of  the  country,  was  one  of 
the  best  things  that  could  have  happened  to  said  sec- 
tion, as  he  brought  to  it  his  resolution  and  industry, 
and  has  built  up  within  its  borders  one  of  the  finest 
farms  which  has  assisted  so  largely  in  the  embellish- 
ment of  the  landscape.  The  history  of  Mr.  Allen, 
who  may  be  most  properly  termed  a  self-made  man, 
is  essentially  as  follows: 

The  first  twelve  months  of  the  life  of  William  Z. 
Allen  were  spent  in  South  Carolina,  where  his  birth 
took  place  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  Oct.  16,  1821. 
His  parents,  John  and  Delilah  (Clauton)  Allen, 
were  natives  of  the  same  locality,  whence  they  re- 
moved when  their  son  was  a  year  old,  to  East 
Tennessee,  where  they  remained  eleven  years,  and 


then  coming  North,  located  in  Edgar  County,  this 
State,  of  which  they  were  residents  for  thirty  years 
following.  They  finally  sold  out  the  old  homestead 
in  Edgar  County,  and  became  residents  of  Douglas 
County,  where  the  death  of  the  father  took  place 
in  1865.  The  mother  survived  her  husband  twenty- 
one  years,  dying  in  1886.  Both  parents  were  born 
in  1796.  Their  ten  children  were  named  respect- 
ively, Jane,  Martha,  William  Z.,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
Dorcas,  Margaret,  James  B.,  Francis  M.  and  John. 
The  latter  died  in  childhood.  John  Allen  was  a 
man  of  deep  piety,  and  a  prominent  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  in  which  he  was  one  of 
the  chief  pillars,  and  to  whose  support  he  always 
contributed  liberally  and  cheerfully. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  received  the  advant- 
ages of  a  common-school  education,  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  parents,  and  remained  with  them  on 
the  homestead  in  Edgar  County  until  his  marriage. 
He  then  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  and  set  to 
work  with  the  intention  of  accumulating  a  fortune. 
How  well  he  has  succeeded  in  his  determination, 
the  broad  acres  which  constitute  his  farm,  and  the 
fine  improvements  which  lie  has  made  upon  it,  are 
silent  but  forcible  witnesses.  When  starting  out  in 
life  he  was  thrown  entirely  upon  his  own  resources, 
even  having  to  borrow  the  $1.12£  with  which  to 
buy  his  license  to  be  married.  The  young  lady  who 
had  consented  to  unite  herself  with  these  doubtful 
fortunes,  was  Miss  Amanda  Ervin,  who  became  his 
wife  on  the  14th  of  May,  1840,  the  wedding  taking 
place  in  Edgar  County.  Mrs.  Allen  was  born  in 
Fayette  County,  Ky.,  in  1823,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Elias  and  Martha  (Eaton)  Ervin,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Maryland  and  Kentucky.  Both  par- 
ents were  born  and  died  in  the  same  year,  being 
each  eighty-four  years  of  age.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Allen,  were  John  I.,  who  died  in  child- 
hood ;  William  H.,  Delilah  E.,  Martha  A. ;  Sarah  E. 
became  the  wife  of  James  Lowler,  and  died  in  Kan- 
sas in  1886;  James  C.,  Charles  W.  and  Job;  the  two 
latter  died  in  infancy. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  worked 
in  harmony  with  the  one  purpose  in  view,  of  estab- 
lishing a  home  and  a  worthy  position,  both  socially 
and  financially.  They  lived  economically,  and  each 
year  added  to  the  snug  sum  which  was  invested  in 


i 


COLES    COUNTY. 


195 


i 


a  wise  and  judicious  manner.  After  a  residence  of 
thirty-four  years  in  this  county,  they  can  •  look 
back  with  satisfaction  and  the  consciousness  of  a 
well-spent  life,  in  which  they  have  sought  to  render 
kindly  offices  to  those  in  need,  and  to  rear  their 
children  in  a  manner  best  calculated  to  make  of 
them  worthy  and  honorable  citizens.  Mrs.  Allen 
never  attended  school  a  day  in  her  life,  and  after 
she  was  fifty  years  old  learned  the  art  of  penman- 
ship, in  which  she  is  quite  proficient.  She  has  devel- 
oped into  a  fine  reader,  and  spends  a  large  portion 
of  her  time  with  her  books  and  periodicals,  from 
which  she  has  gained  a  valuable  fund  of  informa- 
ation,  and  by  reason  of  which  she  is  a  lady  of  more 
than  ordinary  intelligence,  and  one  extremely 
pleasant  to  converse  with. 

Both  our  subject  and  his  wife,  at  an  early  day 
identified  themselves  with  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  of  which  Mr.  A.  has  been  a  Trustee  for 
thirty  years,  and  since  1H57  has  officiated  much  of 
the  time  as  Class-Leader  and  Steward.  He  con- 
tributed largely  to  the  erection  of  the  first  church 
of  that  denomination  in  this  county.  Ho  has  been 
greatly  interested  in  the  success  of  the  temperance 
movement,  and  politically,  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
upholding  his  principles  with  all  the  energy  of  his 
character,  and  during  the  late  war  was  the  uncom- 
promising foe  of  rebellion  and  secession. 


AVID  REPLOGLE,  deceased,  was  a  resi- 
dent of  this  county  for  over  thirty-seven 
years,  during  which  time  he  identified  him- 
self largely  with  its  agricultural  interests, 
and  built  up  a  good  home  on  section  33,  in  Charles- 
ton Township.  This  consisted  of  240  acres  of  land, 
which  he  improved  and  cultivated  with  marked 
success,  and  where  his  death  took  place,  Jan.  17, 
1878.  Mr.  Replogle  was  born  in  Rockbridge 
County,  Va.,  April  19,  1806,  and  remained  a  resi- 
dent there  until  reaching  his  majority.  He  then 
migrated  to  Ross  County,  Ohio,  where  not  long 
afterward  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Eliza  Beckham,  who  was  a  native  of  that  county, 
and  born  in  about  1812. 

Our  subject  and   wife  afterward   sought  the  far- 


ther  West,  and  coming  to  this  county,  in  August, 
1841,  permanently  located  and  remained  the  bal- 
ance of  their  lives.  Mrs.  Eliza  Reprogle,  after  be- 
coming the  mother  of  four  children,  departed  this 
life  at  the  old  homestead  in  Charleston  Township  in 
1845.  One  child  afterward  died  when  about  two 
months  old.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  T. 
Fields,  of  Charleston  Township;  Rose  Ann  married 
Peter  G.  Redman,  and  is  a  resident  of  Holt  County, 
Mo. ;  Matthias  is  the  youngest,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  on  this  page. 

The  second  wife  of  David  Replogle  was  formerly 
Miss  Maria  White,  who  became  the  mother  of  three 
children:  Loisa,  who  married  John  C.  Red  wine; 
Phebe  E.,  the  wife  of  J.  Nathan  Nees,  and  Mar- 
garet, the  wife  of  Nathan  Bales.  She  is  still  living, 
making  her  home  in  Shelby  County.  David  Re- 
plogle in  early  manhood  belonged  to  the  old  Whig 
party,  but  upon  its  abandonment  he  identified  him- 
self with  the  Republicans,  with  whom  he  remained 
the  balance  of  his  life.  He  was  a  quiet  and  un- 
obtrusive citizen,  attending  strictly  to  his  own  con- 
cerns, and  performing  the  duties  of  life  in  a  worthy 
and  creditable  manner. 


ATTIIIAS  REPLOGLE,  proprietor  of  300 
acres  of  fine  farming  land  on  section  33,  in 
Charleston  Township,  is  a  gentleman  in  the 
prime  of  life,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  success- 
ful career.  He  is  the  son  of  David  and  Eliza  (Beck- 
ham)  Replogle,  natives  respectively  of  Rockbridge 
County,  Va.,  and  Ross  County,  Ohio,  a  sketch  of 
whom  will  be  found  just  preceding  this,  and  is 
a  native  of  this  county,  his  birth  taking  place 
on  his  father's  farm,  in  Charleston  Township,  Nov. 
8,  1841.  His  early  education  was  conducted  in  the 
pioneer  schools,  and  his  childhood  and  youth  were 
spent  after  the  manner  of  most  farmers'  sons,  his 
service  being  utilized  around  the  homestead  as 
soon  as  they  could  be  made  available. 

Our  subject  received  careful  home  training,  and 
was  reared  to  principles  of  honor  and  integrity,  and 
upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  volun- 
teered his  services  as  a  Union  soldier.  He  became 
a  member  of  Co.  I,  123d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  for  three 


196 


COLES   COUNTY. 


4 


years  following  experienced  all  the  vicissitudes  of 
a  soldier's  life,  and  participated  iu  many  of  the  im- 
portant battles  of  the  war.  With  his  comrades  he 
met  the  enemy  at  the  battles  of  Chickamauga, 
Chattanooga,  Perry  ville,  Farmington,  and  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  and  at  the  battle  of  Big  Shanty  received 
a  gunshot  wound  in  the  right  thigh,  which  disabled 
him  for  three  months,  and  from  which  he  has  never 
fully  recovered.  On  account  of  this  he  now  receives 
a  pension  from  the  Government.  At  the  close 
of  the  Rebellion  he  was  mustered  out  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  receiving  his  honorable  discharge,  re- 
turned home  and  prepared  to  enter  upon  the  more 
quiet  scenes  of  a  farmer's  life.  He  was  married 
Dec.  27,  1866,  to  Miss  Virginia  Roberts,  a  native  of 
Pleasant  Grove  Township,  and  born  Nov.  25, 1850. 
Mrs.  R.  is  the  daughter  of  Charles  and  Matilda 
Roberts,  who  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  have 
been  residents  of  this  county  since  1843. 

The  young  people  after  their  marriage  located 
in  Charleston  Township,  and  became  the  parents  of 
nine  children — Ella  May,  John  A.,  William  M., 
Elmer  S.,  Charles,  Leona,  Maggie,  Clara,  and  one 
daughter  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  two 
months  and  two  days.  The  homestead  is  finely 
located,  provided  with  good  buildings,  and  all  the 
requisite  farm  machinery.  Mr.  Replogle  has  con- 
fined his  attention  principally  to  his  business  mat- 
ters and  farm  operations,  and  has  meddled  very 
little  with  public  affairs,  although  he  casts  his  vote 
with  the  Republican  party  upon  occasions  of  im- 
portant elections. 


RS.  EMMA  REAT,  widow  of  Robert  C. 
Reat,  and  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Maria 
(Johnson)  Veach,  was  born  in  1833.  Her 
parents,  who  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  be- 
came residents  of  Coles  County  in  1831.  They 
were  married  in  Crawford  County,  111.,  in  1827, 
and  settled  first  about  four  miles  west  of  Charleston, 
where  Mr.  Veach  took  up  a  tract  of  Government 
land  and  became  an  extensive  farmer.  He  first 
settled  on  a  timber  tract  which  he  had  cleared,  and 
to  which  he  added  until  his  estate  embraced  400 
acres,  180  of  which  he  occupied  until  his  death,  in 


1884.  In  the  meantime  he  had  put  up  handsome 
and  substantial  farm  buildings,  and  was  always  fore- 
most in  the  march  of  progress,  doing  everything  in 
his  power  to  assist  in  encouraging  immigration,  and 
the  settlement  of  one  of  the  most  desirable  portions 
of  the  Prairie  State.  He  became  prominent  among 
his  fellow-citizens  as  a  man  possessing  admirable 
traits  of  character,  honest  and  upright  in  his  trans- 
actions, and  in  all  respects  a  sincere  and  liberal- 
minded  Christian.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  many  years,  and 
politically,  gave  his  influence  to  the  support  of 
Democratic  principles.  Mrs.  Veach  is  still  living, 
and  now  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Palmer. 
The  household  included  seven  children,  of  whom 
but  three  are  now  living,  namely,  Emma,  of  our 
sketch;  Harriet,  Mrs.  Palmer,  of  Humbolt  Town- 
ship, and  Melissa,  Mrs.  Brown. 

Mrs.  Reat  spent  her  childhood  and  youth  with 
her  parents,  and  when  twenty-six  years  of  age  was 
united  in  marriage,  Dec.  28,  1859,  with  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  she  has  since  borne.  Robert  C. 
Reat  was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  Nov.  2, 
1828,  and  was  the  son  of  James  and  Susan  (Rodg- 
ers)  Reat,  who  were  also  natives  of  the  Buckeye 
State.  They  came  to  Northern  Illinois  in  1840, 
and  located  in  this  county  on  a  farm  three  miles 
west  of  Charleston,  which  they  occupied  until  1857, 
and  then  removed  into  town.  Of  their  eleven  chil- 
dren only  three  are  now  living — Mary,  James  L 
and  Susan.  The  father  died  at  Charleston  in  1857. 
The  mother  afterward  removed  to  Douglas  County, 
where  her  death  took  place  in  the  spring  of  186"6. 

Robert  Reat  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received 
a  liberal  education,  completing  his  studies  in  the 
common  schools.  After  reaching  his  majority,  he 
proceeded  to  California,  and  spent  seven  years  in 
the  mining  districts,  where  he  met  with  fair  success 
in  searching  for  the  yellow  ore.  Upon  his  return 
from  the  Pacific  Slope  he  purchased  ninety-five 
acres  of  land  lying  adjacent  to  the  city  limits  of 
Charleston,  which  he  occupied  and  cultivated  until 
resting  from  his  earthly  labors.  His  death  took 
place  on  the  7th  of  March,  1871,  and  he  is  remem- 
bered as  a  man  of  excellent  Christian  character, 
who  exerted  a  good  influence  upon  all  around  him. 
He  was  for  many  years  connected  with  the  Method- 


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OF  THE 

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COLES   COUNTY. 


199 


ist  Episcopal  Church,  both  as  a  layman  and  an  of- 
ficial, and  contributed  cheerfully  of  his  means  to 
those  measures  which  tended  to  the  general  welfare 
of  the  people  around  him. 

Of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reat  there  are 
three  children,  namely,  Clyde,  born  Jan.  10,  1864; 
Charles,  Dec.  27,  1868,  and  Jessie,  July  4,  1871. 
All  are  at  home  with  their  mother.  Mrs.  Reat  is  a 
lady  of  many  excellent  qualities,  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  a 
worker  in  the  missionary  society  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
She  also  belongs  to  the  Royal  Templars.  Since  the 
death  of  her  husband,  she  has  conducted  the  inter- 
ests of  her  farm  and  her  children  with  judicious 
care,  and  has  kept  up  the  homestead  in  the  same 
creditable  manner  for  which  it  was  distinguished 
during  his  lifetime. 


AN1EL  W.  HONN,  Su.,  occupies  a  little 
more  than  a  quarter  of  section  16,  in  Ash- 
more  Township,  where  he  has  lived  for 
nearly  thirty  years.  During  the  long  per- 
iod of  his  residence  here  he  has  fully  established 
himself  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  people 
of  Coles  County,  and  has  built  up  one  of  its  most 
substantial  homesteads.  The  fine  dwelling  standing 
in  a  prominent  position,  is  the  admiration  of  the 
passing  traveler,  while  the  well-filled  barns  and  well- 
kept  stock  denote  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the 
proprietor. 

Mr.  Honn  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in 
Nicholas  County,  Oct.  4,  1822,  and  is  the  son  of 
Daniel  and  Annie  (Everman)  Honn,  also  natives  of 
the  Blue  Grass  State.  Daniel  Honn,  Sr.,  was  a  man 
of  excellent  Christian  character,  and  a  member  of 
the  Reform  Church,  in  which  he  officiated  as  Dea- 
con for  many  years,  and  also  as  a  local  preacher. 
His  brother  Peter  was  also  noted  for  his  talents  as 
a  minister,  to  which  he  devoted  the  greater  part  of 
his  life.  The  father  of  our  subject  did  not  live  to 
old  age,  dying  when  about  forty  years  of  age,  on 
the  25th  of  June,  1826.  He  always  had  a  love  for 
country  life  and  was  the  owner  of  a  good  farm  in 
Nicholas  County,  where  he  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  time.  He  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife 
being  the  mother  of  our  subject,  and  who  died  when 


sixty  years  of  age,  on  the  26th  of  August,  1857. 
The  children  bom  of  this  union  were  Hezekiah 
B.,  Peter  K.,  Andrew  E.,  Sarah  A.,  Samuel  D., 
Absalom  C.,  Daniel  W.,  of  our  sketch,  and  Mary 
E.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and 
attended  the  common  schools,  remaining  a  member 
of  the  parental  household  until  about  twenty-four 
years  of  age.  He  was  then  married,  Aug.  26, 
1846,  to  Miss  Nancy  E.  Hook,  a  native  of  his  own 
county,  and  born  June  10,  1828.  Her  parents, 
Mathias  and  Matilda  (Huddleson)  Hook,  were  also 
natives  of  Kentucky.  The  mother  died  in  Ken- 
tucky, March  2,  1851.  The  parental  household  in- 
cluded but  two  daughters,  twins.  Mary  A.,  the 
sister  of  Mrs.  Honn,  married  Harrison  Parker,  and 
died  at  the  home  of  her  husband  in  Nicholas 
County,  Ky.,  Aug.  11,  1851;  her  only  child  also 
died  the  same  year. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Honn,  eleven  in 
number,  are  recorded  as  follows:  Clarinda  F.  be- 
came the  wife  of  S.  D.  Watts,  and  lives  in  Doug- 
las County,  111. ;  Eliza  A.,  the  wife  of  John  H. 
Schulse,  is  a  resident  of  Rails  County,  Mo. ;  Mary 
E.  married  William  M.  McConnaha,  and  is  living 
in  Edgar  County,  111.;  Amanda  E.  was  married 
Dec.  24,  1879,  to  William  F.  Schulse,  who  died  of 
consumption  on  the  4th  of  June,  1884,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-seven  years,  having  been  born  Nov.  7, 
1847;  their  two  children  were  Rolla  N.,  born  in 
January,  1882,  and  died  Aug.  10,  1884,  and  Jessie 
A.,  born  May  31,  1883;  Mr.  Schulse  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  a  member  in  good  standing  of 
the  Christian  Church.  The  next  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Honn  was  John  B. ;  George  D.  married  Miss 
Emma  R.  Geyer,  Feb.  16,  1882;  she  is  a  native  of 
Illinois,  born  in  1864;"she  has.  become  the  mother 
of  two  children,  Lilly  W.,  born  July  5,  1883,  and 
Leonard  O.,  June  24,  1886;  they  live  on  a  good 
farm  in  Ashmore  Township.  Andrew  J.  Honn  was 
born  April  16,  1860,  and  died  June  12,  1865; 
Sarah  R.,  born  Sept.  18,  1862,  died  June  12,  1865; 
Daniel  W.,  Jr.,  was  born  Sept.  2, 1864;  Matilda  M., 
bora  May  10,  1867,  died  July  11,  1868;  Jesse  A., 
born  July  12,  1868,  was  married  Sept.  9,  1886,  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Kearns,  and  they  have  one  child, 
William  J.,  born  June  6,  1887. 


I 


,  ,    200 


COLES    COUNTY. 


Mr.  Honn  left  his  native  State  in  1858,  coming 
directly  to  this  county,  and  soon  afterward  locating 
upon  the  land  which  constitutes  his  present  home- 
stead. He  first  purchased  1 20  acres,  to  which  he 
afterward  added  forty-five,  and  in  addition  to  gen- 
eral farming  is  breeding  Poland-China  hogs  of  the 
very  best  quality.  He  has  held  the  office  of  School 
Director  in  his  township,  is  a  stanch  Democrat  po- 
litically, and  religiously,  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Christian  Church.  He  has  officiated  as  Elder 
for  a  period  of  fourteen  years,  and  has  always  been 
greatly  interested  in  Sunday-school  work,  giving  to 
it  his  time  as  Superintendent  for  many  years.  He 
has  also  been  Clerk,  and  is  one  of  the  chief  pillars 
among  the  brethren,  who  would  scarcely  know  how 
to  do  without  him. 

Daniel  W.  Honn,  Jr.,  the  son  of  our  subject,  is  a 
gentleman  of  fine  education  and  a  minister  of  the 
Christian  Church,  occupying  the  pulpit  in  Dana  and 
Hazel  Dell.  He  is  still,  however,  pursuing  his 
studies  in  the  college  at  Irvington.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Gertrude  Wood,  daughter  of 
C.  C.  and  Delila  F.  (Barnett)  Wood,  Aug.  31,  1887, 
at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents  in  Tuscola,  111. 

Portraits  of  Daniel  W.  Honu,  Sr.,  and  his  wife 
are  presented  in  this  ALBUM  in  connection  with  this 
personal  sketch. 


J1 OSEPH  ARMSTRONG,  a  prosperous  farmer 
and  stock-grower,  residing  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
since  1844.     He  was  born  Aug.  11,  1823,  in 
Highland  County,  Va.,  and  is  the  son  of  Jarred  and 
Agnes  (Hiner)  Armstrong.     His  paternal  ancestors 
had  been  for  many  years  residents  of  Virginia,  and 
his  mother's  family  was  of  German  extraction. 

In  early  life  Jarred  Armstrong  was  occupied  at 
the  shoemaker's  trade  and  also  owned  a  distillery 
and  mill,  but  subsequently  he  engaged  quite  largely 
in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  passed  his  life  in 
Virginia  and  died  there  at  the  advanced  age  of  over 
eighty  years.  His  wife  also  reached  the  age  of 
fourscore  years.  The  family  on  each  side  is  noted 
for  longevity,  some  members  having  attained  over 
one  hundred  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jarred  Arm- 


strong  had  a  family  of  four  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters born  to  them,  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
Matilda  became  the  wife  of  P.  J.  Edman,  and  after 
his  death  married  Charles  Roberts,  with  whom  she 
came  to  Coles  County,  where  her  death  occurred 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years ;  Mahala  became 
the  wife  of  Jacob  Edman,  whom  she  accompanied 
to  this  county,  where  her  death  occurred  in  Sep- 
tember, 1853;  Abel  H.  died  in  his  native  county  in 
Virginia;  Martha,  who  became  the  wife  of  Solomon 
Hedrick,  died  in  West  Virginia;  John  T.  is  a 
farmer  and  stock-grower,  residing  in  Highland 
County,  Va. ;  Mahulda  became  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Hiner,  and  resides  in  West  Virginia;  Allan  resides 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Virginia;  Joseph,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  and  Lucinda,  the  wife  of  George 
Hiner,  a  farmer  residing  in  West  Virginia. 

Joseph  Armstrong  was  reared  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Virginia,  where  he  acquired  a  practical 
knowledge  of  the  details  of  systematic  farming  and 
stock-growing.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Leitch.  Mrs. 
Armstrong  was  born  May  23,  1824,  in  Pendleton 
Count}',  Va.  Immediately  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Armstrong  resolved  to  seek  his  fortune  an  the 
West,  and  with  his  young  wife,  bravely  started 
out  on  the  long  and  perilous  overland  journey 
from  Virginia  to  this  State,  with  a  team  of  strong 
horses  and  a  substantial  wagon.  After  passing 
through  many  trials  and  adventures,  they  reached 
their  destination  in  safety,  and  with  hopeful  and 
courageous  hearts  began  the  world  together  on  the 
Western  frontier.  Mr.  Armstrong  settled  in  Coles 
County,  and  in  1847  entered  forty  acres  of  his 
present  farm,  which  he  has  made  the  homestead. 
He  erected  a  log  cabin  in  the  primitive  fashion, 
which  his  wife,  with  her  womanly  tact  and  good 
judgment,  rendered  as  comfortable  and  homelike  as 
the  circumstances  would  permit.  Mr.  Armstrong 
marked  off  the  land  and  cleared  and  cultivated  his 
farm,  and  being  industrious  and  economical,  and 
aided  by  the  housewifely  thrift  of  a  devoted  wife, 
has  advanced  steadily  on  the  road  to  success. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armstrong  had  a  family  of  four 
children  born  to  them,  one  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  a  daughter  named  Margaret  J.  died  in 
the  spring  of  1885,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four.  The 


COLES   COUNTY. 


201 


two  children  living  arc,  Charles  E.  and  Abel  T. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Armstrong  are  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Armstrong  is  interested 
in  educational  affairs,  and  has  served  many  years 
as  School  Director.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 
In  1862,  at  the  call  of  his  country,  Mr.  Arm- 
strong left  his  home  and  business  and  enlisted  in  Co. 
I.,  123d  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  took  part  in  all  the 
principal  engagements  of  the  war,  and  served  until 
its  close,  proving  himself  throughout  his  military 
career,  a  brave  and  efficient  soldier.  After  his  re- 
turn home,  Mr.  Armstrong  resumed  farming,  and 
now  owns  over  300  acres  of  valuable  land,  with  an 
excellent  residence  and  appropriate  farm  buildings. 
He  gives  special  attention  to  stock-raising,  in  which 
he  has  been  very  successful. 


OSES  ELLISON  has  been  for  more  than 
twenty  years  a  prominent  citizen  of  North 
Okaw  Township,  his  fine  estate  containing 
240  acres  of  well-improved  land,  being 
located  on  section  7.  He  was  born  Jan.  30,  1808, 
in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert 
and  Rebecca  (Lockhard)  Ellison.  Robert  Ellison 
was  born  Jan.  28, 1770,  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland, 
and  in  1787  accompanied  his  parents  to  the  United 
States.  Thej'  left  their  native  land,  which  has 
been  for  so  many  centuries  the  battle-ground  of 
conflicting  Governmental  policies,  to  seek  a  home 
and  heritage  for  their  children  in  this  land  of  free- 
dom, where  a  welcome  has  ever  been  extended  to 
all  who  come.  Mr.  Ellison  landed  at  Philadelphia, 
and  with  his  family  made  the  journey  to  Pitts- 
burgh by  wagon.  He  there  embarked  on  a  float 
and  went  down  the  river  to  Maysville,  Ky.,  and 
thence  to  Manchester,  Ohio,  where  he  made  his  per- 
manent home.  The  early  settlers  of  Ohio  were 
greatly  disturbed  by  the  Indians  at  that  time,  and 
his  brother  Andrew  was  once  captured  by  a  band 
of  fierce  savages  who  spared  his  life,  but  sold  him 
to  a  Frenchman  for  a  quart  of  whisky.  After  a 
few  months  of  captivity,  he  made  his  escape  and 
returned  home  in  safety. 

Mr.  Ellison  had  the  advantage  of  a  good   com- 


mon-school  education,  and  possessed  excellent  bus- 
iness qualifications.  He  was  for  several  years  em- 
ployed by  a  company  of  surveyors  in  Ohio,  and 
subsequently  became  a  large  land-owner  himself, 
having  at  one  time  over  1 ,000  acres.  When  he 
was  about  thirty  years  of  ago  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Lockhard  took  place,  Oct.  11.  1802.  Mrs. 
Ellison  was  born  Sept. -7,  1781,  near  Philadelphia. 
After  their  marriage,  they  settled  near  Manchester, 
Ky.,  and  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives  there. 
Mrs.  Ellison  died  June  7,  1829,  leaving  her  beloved 
husband  under  sad  circumstances.  He  had  shortly 
before  received  a  stroke  of  paralysis,  and  was  an 
invalid  for  about  twelve  years  prior  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  May  13,  1839.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  ten  children,  as  follows :  Mary,  born  Feb. 
20,  1804,  became  the  wife  of  James  Hood,  and 
died  May  9,  1 838,  leaving  three  children ;  Marga- 
ret, born  April  7,  1805,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years;  John,  born  Aug.  18",  1806,  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one  years;  Moses,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Isabel,  born  Aug.  14,  1809,  married  James 
Hood,  her  deceased  sister's  husband ;  Robert,  born 
April  5,  1811,  married  Ann  Work;  Elizabeth,  born 
Jan.  11,  1812,  married  Thomas  Huston,  and  both 
are  deceased ;  Catherine,  born  July  30,  1814,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Hanson  Newell,  and  both  are  also 
deceased;  Cyrus,  born  Aug.  24,  1816,  was  twice 
married;  Thomas,  born  June  6,  1819,  married  Miss 
Mary  A.  Wilson,  and  both  are  deceased. 

Moses  Ellison  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on 
the  homestead,  and  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age 
when  his  father  was  stricken  with  paralysis.  His 
educational  advantages  were  very  limited,  he 
never  having  either  the  time  or  opportunity  to 
attend  school,  but  about  fifteen  months  in  his  life. 
He  lived  on  the  homestead,  taking  charge  of  his 
father's  farm  until  he  was  about  thirty  years  of 
age,  when  his  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Lockridge 
took  place  April  6,  1839.  Mrs.  Ellison  was  born 
April  16,  1809,  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Anderson) 
Lockridge.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  County 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  at  an  early  day,  making  their  home  in  Ohio. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Ellison  was  engaged  for 
some  time  in  farming  in  his  native  county,  on 


202 


COLES   COUNTY. 


4 


property  he  inherited  from  his  father.  Desiring  to 
move  farther  westward  he  disposed  of  his  prop- 
erty there  in  the  winter  of  1863,  and  came  to 
North  Okaw  Township.  In  the  following  spring 
he  purchased  240  acres  of  improved  land  and  forty 
acres  of  timber.  He  was  active  and  enterprising  in 
business,  and  on  coming  to  his  new  home  identified 
himself  successfully  with  the  interests  of  the  com- 
munity, by  whom  he  is  held  in  high  esteem. 

His  family  consisted  of  seven  children :  Robert, 
born  Feb.  18,  1838,  married  Miss  Ann  Siberl,  and 
resides  in  Nebraska;  Margaret,  deceased,  born  Oct. 
20,  1839,  was  the  wife  of  C.  Mowery;  Mary,  born 
Aug.  19,  1841,  is  the  wife  of  Hugh  Cook,  and  re- 
sides in  Missouri;  William,  born  June  26,  1843, 
married  Miss  Mary  Moore,  and  after  her  death 
married  the  second  time;  he  resides  in  Kansas; 
Theodore,  born  Nov.  20,  1845,  married  Miss  Jane 
Gallion,  and  resides  in  this  county;  Emma,  born 
Feb.  28.  1848,  is  the  wife  of  Madison  Hunt;  Cyn- 
thia, born  June  20,  1852,  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Jackson. 

May  11,  1870,  Mr.  Ellison's  happy  household 
was  darkened  by  the  death  of  his  wife.  With  her 
husband  she  had  been  for  many  years  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  her  daily  life  bore 
witness  to  the  sincerity  and  earnestness  of  her 
Christian  faith.  She  was  beloved  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends,  and  deeply  mourned  by  her  family  and 
all  who  knew  her.  In  politics,  Mr.  Ellison  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  held  several  of  the  township 
offices,  giving  satisfaction  to  the  people  in  the 
faithful  discharge  of  his  public  duties. 

ARK  S.  ASH  WORTH  owns  and  occupies 
a  finely  cultivated  farm  of  120  acres  on 
section  24,  in  North  Okaw  Township, 
where  he  ranks  as  a  first-class  agriculturist, 
and  beside  manipulating  the  soil  to  profit  and 
advantage,  is  giving  much  attention  to  the  raising 
of  graded  stock.  Mr.  Ashworth  is  a  native  of 
Mercer  Count}',  Va.,  born  March  1,  1838,  and  is 
the  sixth  in  a  family  of  twelve  children,  the  off- 
spring of  Cornelius  C.  and  Hannah  (Mooney)  Ash- 
worth,  also  natives  of  the  old  Dominion.  Cor- 


nelius Ashworth  followed  farming  the  greater  part 
of  his  life,  to  which  he  had  been  reared  by  his 
father,  Samuel.  The  latter  in  eaily  manhood 
married  Miss  Vandusen,  and  it  is  supposed  that 
both  were  also  natives  of  Virginia. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  after  his  marriage, 
removed  with  his  family  from  his  native  State  to 
Shelby  County,  this  State,  in  about  1854.  A  year 
later  he  came  to  Coles  County,  which  was  then 
almost  a  wilderness,  and  where  Mark  S.,  our  sub- 
ject, herded  cattle  upon  land  which  he  would  not 
have  accepted  to  the  amount  of  ten  sections,  as  a 
gift.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  the  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  (Stoneman)  Mooney,  the  for- 
mer a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  After 
the  conflict  was  ended,  he  settled  down  in  his  native 
State  of  Virginia,  and  both  parents  there  spent 
their  declining  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  a  member 
of  his  father's  household  until  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  His  early  education  was  exceedingly  limited, 
but  he  felt  the  necessity  of  more  learning,  and 
accordingly  set  about  the  study  of  useful  books 
and  also  preparing  himself  to  give  instructions  to 
others.  In  due  time  he  had  succeeded  admirably 
and  attended  the  first  school  in  what  is  now  the 
city  of  Mattoon.  He  followed  the  profession  of  a 
teacher  for  nine  years  in  this  county,  and  then,  de- 
sirous of  establishing  a  permanent  home,  aban- 
doned teaching  and  purchased  the  land  which 
constitutes  his  present  homestead.  He  was  married 
Oct.  20,  1870,  to  Miss  Ann  M.,  third  and  youngest 
child  of  John  and  Maria  (Mallinson)  Thornton, 
natives  of  England,  who  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Illinois  during  the  pioneer 
days.  Mrs.  Ashworth  was  born  in  Cook  County, 
Nov.  21,  1844.  Her  father  owned  a  small  piece  of 
land,  but  was  mainly  engaged  as  a  cabinet-maker 
and  a  carpenter. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashworth 
located  on  the  land  which  they  now  occupy,  and 
Mr.  A.  in  course  of  time  erected  a  neat  frame 
residence  in  place  of  the  humble  dwelling  in  which 
they  first  set  up  housekeeping.  He  was  successful 
in  his  farming  operations,  and  has  accumulated  a 
fair  competency.  The  household  circle  was  com- 
pleted by  the  birth  of  six  children,  all  living,  and 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


203 


named  respectively,  Elmer,  Bertie,  Ralph,  Leila, 
Flora  and  George.  All  are  at  home  with  their 
parents,  and  with  them  are  members  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
Mr.  Ashworth  lias  served  as  Trustee,  and  has  been 
a  liberal  and  cheerful  contributor  to  its  support. 

Politically  he  has  been  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  since  exercising  the  right  of  suffrage, 
and  has  held  the  various  local  offices,  being  Town 
Clerk  five  years,  Assessor  four  years,  Collector  two 
years,  and  representing  the  township  in  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors.  The  farm  stock,  which 
comprises  one  of  the  most  attractive  features  of 
the  homestead,  consists  of  throughbred  English 
draft  horses,  full-blooded  Short-horn  cattle  and 
Poland-China  hogs,  among  which  Mr.  Ashworth  is 
able  to  exhibit  some  fine  specimens. 


GUIS  A.  ASHWORTH,  Supervisor  of  North 
Okaw  Township,  is  a  prominent  and  influ- 
ential citizen,  residing  on  section  22,  where 
he  carries  on  an  extensive  business  in  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  was  born  Dec.  22,1839,  in  Mer- 
cer County,  Va.,  and  is  the  son  of  C.  C.  and  Han- 
nah (Mooney)  Ashworth,  natives  of  Virginia,  as 
were  also  his  paternal  grandparents,  Samuel  and 
Rebecca  Ashworth.  Virginia  has  ever  been  distin- 
guished for  the  patriotism  of  her  sons,  and  Samuel 
Ashworth  in  his  early  life  served  as  a  private  in  the 
War  of  1812.  He  possessed  rare  mental  abilities, 
which  had  been  cultivated  and  improved  by  an  ex- 
cellent education,  and  was  engaged  in  teaching 
throughout  his  entire  life,  in  which  profession  he 
was  very  successful,  and  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
had  charge  of  a  class  in  mathematics  in  Greenbrier 
College.  He  had  full  possession  of  his  mental  fac- 
ulties at  the  age  of  eighty-seven,  when  his  death 
occurred.  The  preferences  of  C.  C.  Ashworth  led 
him  to  follow  the  occupation  of  agriculture.  Late 
in  the  autumn  of  1853  he  emigrated  to  Illinois, 
making  his  first  settlement  in  Shelby  County,  but 
soon  after  changed  his  location  to  this  county, 
where  he  made  his  permanent  home  in  Mnttoon,  and 
there  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his  life. 

Louis  Ashworth  passed  his  boyhood  and   youth 


on  the  homestead,  assisting  his  father  in  cultivating 
|  and  improving  the  farm  during  the  summer,  and 
attending  the  district  school  in  the  winter,  where 
the  educational  advantages  at  that  time  were  very 
limited.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  started  out 
in  life  for  himself,  and  engaged  in  farming  on 
rented  land.  At  the  expiration  of  two  years, 
passed  in  energetic  application  to  business,  his  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Rice  took  place,  July  1C, 
18C3.  Mrs.  Ashworth  is  the  daughter  of  Amos  and 
Sarah  (Compton)  Rice,  the  former  a  native  of  New 
York,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  After  his  marriage, 
he  engaged  in  farming  on  rented  laud  belonging  to 
Harrison  Smith,  located  on  section  23.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  one  year  he  rented  the  property  where 
he  now  resides,  and  after  carrying  on  a  successful 
farming  business  for  five  or  six  years,  he  moved  to 
section  24,  and,  associated  with  his  brother  Mark, 
purchased  1 28  acres  of  land.  A  year  later  he  sold 
his  interest  to  his  brother  and  returned  to  section 
22,  where  he  had  previously  rented,  and  within 
three  or  four  years  purchased  160  acres  of  that 
property,  making  his  permanent  residence  there. 
He  has  since  made  additional  purchases,  and  now 
owns  a  fine  estate  containing  200  acres,  all  of  which 
is  well  improved  and  well  stocked.  He  has  erected 
a  tasteful  farm  residence,  and  is  rapidly  bringing 
his  entire  property  into  a  fine  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  had  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  all  of  whom,  with  one  exception. 
are  now  living — Mary  Elizabeth,  Job  A.,  Walter 
E.,  James  L.,  William  A.,  Annetta,  Sarah  Belle, 
Jessie  L.,  John  Arthur  and  Clinton  C.  Their  first 
born,  named  George  Allison,  died  in  infancy. 
Mary  Elizabeth  married  Dr.  Albert  Hamilton,  the 
son  of  ex-Sheriff  Hamilton.  The  remainder  of  the 
children  reside  on  the  homestead  with  their  parents. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashworth  are  members  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  Church  at  Pleasant  Grove,  in  which 
the  former  has  been  a  member  for  twenty-five  years, 
and  Deacon  twenty-two  years ;  he  has  also  served  ten 
years  as  Clerk.  With  his  wife  he  is  an  active 
worker  in  both  the  church  and  Sunday-school,  hav- 
ing held  the  positions  of  Superintendent  and  Assist- 
ant Superintendent  in  the  latter  for  many  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashworth  are  influential  members 
of  society,  possessing  the  respect  and  affectionate 


r 


204 


COLES   COUNTY. 


regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Mr.  Ashworth  is 
actively  interested  in  politics,  and  has  been  elected 
to  several  official  positions  by  the  Democratic  party, 
of  which  he  is  a  warm  supporter:  he  has  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  two  terms,  and  is  now 
serving  his  eighth  term  as  School  Director,  and  his 
third  term  as  Supervisor  of  the  township,  giving 
general  satisfaction  to  the  people  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duties. 


J"~?OHN  H.  BLEVINS  came  to  this  State  in 
1840,  when  a  youth  of  eighteen  years,  and 
j  to  this  county  in  1854,  locating  in  Oakland 
'  Township.  He  has  been  engaged  in  farming 
the  greater  part  of  his  life,  but  is  now  retired  from 
active  labor  and  is  living  in  the  village  in  ease  and 
comfort,  upon  the  competency  which  he  accumu- 
lated by  years  of  industry  and  a  wise  investment  of 
his  savings.  Mr.  Blevins  was  born  in  Knox 
County,  Ind.,  Oct.  2,  1822,  and  "is  the  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Hunt)  Blevins,  natives  respectively  of 
Kentucky  arid  Indiana.  John  Blevins,  Sr.,  wag 
born  in  1766,  and  upon  becoming  a  young  man 
learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker.  He  left  his 
native  State  after  his  marriage,  in  1819,  and 
located  for  a  time  in  Knox  County,  then  in  1842 
removed  to  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  where  his 
death  took  place  in  1856.  He  was  a  man  of  much 
force  of  character,  and  greatly  respected  for  his 
integrity  and  high  moral  character.  The  mother, 
who  was  born  in  1772,  came  to  Indiana  with  her 
husband  in  1819,  and  died  the  year  following  her 
husband's  decease,  in  1857.  She  was  of  German 
descent,  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  nine  children  of  the  parental  household  were : 
Elizabeth,  James,  Henry,  William,  Mahala,  Matilda, 
Cynthia,  Amelia  and  John  H. 

The  youth  and  childhood  of  Mr.  Blevins  were 
passed  under  the  parental  roof,  and  on  coming  to 
this  State  he  located  in  Edgar  County,  and  com- 
menced working  on  a  farm.  Afterward  he  spent 
three  years  in  Shelby  County,  and  upon  coming  to 
Coles  County  purchased  187  acres  of  land  in  East 
Oakland  Township,  where  he  carried  on  fanning, 
and  lived  until  retiring  from  active  labor,  in  1885. 


He  has  a  fine  residence  in  the  village,  is  surrounded 
by  hosts  of  friends,  and  is  one  of  the  pillars  of  the 
Christian  Church,  in  which  he  has  officiated  as 
Deacon,  and  occupied  other  important  positions  for 
a  period  of  twelve  years.  His  connection  with  this 
church  dates  from  the  spring  of  1851. 

Our  subject  before  reaching  his  twentieth  year, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Harriet,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Amelia  (Groff)  Blevins,  their 
wedding  taking  place  Feb.  9,  1841.  Mrs.  B.  was 
born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ky.,  Jan.  2,  1825,  and 
by  her  union  with  our  subject  became  the  mother 
of  fifteen  children,  ten  now  living.  These  were 
named  respectively,  Thomas  W.,  Francis  J.,  Isabel, 
Louisa  E.,  Amelia,  James  G.,  Martha  K.,  John  S., 
Sarah  E.,  Mahala  and  George  (twins),  Berry, 
Marion  and  Hamilton  (twins),  and  Maggie  E. 
Thomas  W.,  the  eldest  son,  was  killed  in  an  en- 
gagement at  Atlanta,  Ga.  He  was  a  soldier  in  Co. 
H,  79th  111.  Vol.  Inf. 


RS.  OLIVE  A.  ADAMS,  widow  of  Capt. 
William  E.  Adams,  is  well  known  through- 
out Charleston  Township  as  having  been 
the  close  friend  and  helpmeet  of  one  of  its 
most  highly  respected  citizens.  Capt.  Adams  was  a 
native  of  Bedford  County  ,Tenn.,  born  Oct.  15,  1830, 
and  the  son  of  John  J.  and  Martha  (Gammill)  Ad- 
ams, who  became  residents  of  Coles  County  in 
December,  1830.  They  located  in  what  is  now  Pleas- 
ant Grove  Township,  and  became  the  parents  of  a 
family  of  seven  children,  of  whom  the  record  is  as 
follows  :  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  R.  P.  Brown,  of 
Hillsbbro;  Eliza  married  Dr.  S.  A.  Reel,  of  Oak- 
land ;  Martha  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  West,  a  mer- 
chant of  Western  Texas;  Margaret,  Mrs.  John 
Grimes,  is  a  resident  of  Kansas,  where  her  hus- 
band is  conducting  a  good  farm;  David  married 
Miss  Hannah  Harris,  of  this  county,  and  is  farming 
in  Benton  County,  Ark.  ;  John  A.,  who  served  as  a 
Union  soldier,  died  in  the  army  of  typhoid  fever; 
William  E.,  of  our  sketch,  was  the  eldest. 

John  J.  Adams  engaged  in  farming  all  his  life, 
and  gave  his  children  an  excellent  practical  educa- 
tion. William  E.  remained  steadily  at  home  until 


/ 

T 


COLES   COUNTY. 


205 


fifteen  years  old,  and  early  in  life  distinguished 
himself  as  an  ambitious  boy  of  more  than  ordinary 
intelligence.  At  the  age  mentioned,  he  commenced 
buying  and  herding  stock,  and  driving  to  Wiscon- 
sin. In  the  meantime  he  occupied  his  leisure  mo- 
ments in  the  reading  of  law,  and  made  such  profi- 
ciency, that  in  1857  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
receiving  his  credentials  at  Madison,  Wis.  He  at 
once  commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profes- 
sion at  Mattoon,  this  county,  which  he  continued 
until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  After 
watching  the  fruitless  struggle  until  August,  1862, 
he  could  content  himself  at  home  no  longer,  and 
accordingly  enlisted  in  the  123d  Illinois  Infantry, 
being  at  once  chosen 'as  Captain  of  Company  I.  He 
was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Perry  ville,  Ky.,  Chat- 
tanooga, Chickamauga  and  Farmington,  Tenn., 
during  which  he  received  three  wounds  and  de- 

O 

ported  himself  as  a  brave  and  unflinching  soldier. 
He  possessed  in  a  remarkable  degree  the  respect 
of  his  superior  officers  and  the  affection  and  esteem 
of  his  subordinates.  After  the  surrender  of  Lee, 
he  returned  with  his  comrades  to  Springfield,  111., 
and  was  mustered  out  as  Major. 

Upon  his  return  to  civil  life,  Capt.  Adams  was 
destined  to  play  an  important  part  in  the  affairs  of 
Coles  County.  He  soon  became  Clerk  of  the 
Court,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  first  term,  was 
re-elected.  He  was  chosen  to  the  position  of 
County  Judge  in  1873,  and  served  with  marked 
ability  until  1877.  Besides  being  entrusted  with 
other  important  matters  he  was  a  member  of  the 
City  Council  for  three  years,  and  Secretary  of 
Coles  County  Old  Settlers'  Society.  Everything 
pertaining  to  the  moral  and  intellectual  welfare  of 
the  people  around  him  uniformly  received  his  con- 
siderate attention.  He  was  one  of  the  pillars  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  served  as  an 
Elder  for  many  years,  and  was  also  connected  with 
the  Board  of  Education.  At  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  21st  of  September,  1884,  the  Coles 
County  Bar  passed  resolutions  of  respect,  as  did 
also  the  Knights  of  Honor,  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
Charleston  Post  No.  271,  G.  A.  R. 

The  marriage  of  Capt.  Adams  and  Miss  Olive  A. 
Ilolton,  of  Blue  Mound,  Wis.,  took  place  at  the 
home  of  the  bride's  parents  in  Blue  Mound,  in  1859. 


Mrs.  Adams  was  the  daughter  of  David  and  Olive 
(Green)  Ilolton,  natives  of  Vermont,  who  emi- 
grated to  Wisconsin  from  Bedford  in  1853.  They 
located  upon  a  tract  of  land  in  Blue  Mound  Town- 
ship, engaged  in  farming,  and  were  numbered 
among  the  most  highly  respected  residents  of 
that  section.  They  possessed  the  kindly  and  relia- 
ble traits  of  an  excellent  English  ancestry,  and 
reared  a  family  of  six  children,  as  follows:  Sarah, 
the  eldest  daughter,  became  the  wife  of  V.  M. 
Fairbanks,  a  farmer  of  Minnesota;  Mary,  Mrs.  W. 
Sawyer,  continues  to  reside  in  her  native  State  of 
Vermont;  Maria,  who  was  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Clarke,  died  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  several  years 
'ago;  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  J.  Jameson,  a  carpenter 
of  Mattoou;  Olive,  Mrs.  Adams,  was  the  fifth  child  ; 
Jane,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Needham,  is  sojourning  in  De- 
light, Neb.,  where  her  husband  is  engaged  in  the 
hardware  trade.  David  Ilolton  departed  tins'  life 
at  Madison,  Wis.,  on  the  17th  of  January,  1870. 
The  mother  survived  her  husband  over  six  years, 
her  death  occurring  at  Charleston,  Dec.  17,  1876. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
and  a  lady  held  in  high  regard  for  her  many  esti- 
mable qualities. 

The  children  of  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Adams,  five  in 
number,  were  John  H.,  Jennie  M.  ;  Sarah  S.,  the 
wife  of  S.  M.  Leaitch,  and  the  mother  of  one  child, 
Marion  ;  William  E.  and  Olive  E.  Mrs.  Adams  has 
a  fine  home  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  and  is 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life,  while  enjoy- 
ing the  affection  of  her  children  and  a  large  circle 
of  friends. 


F.  BURGNER.  The  snug  home- 
stead  of  this  thrifty  and  well-to-do  resident 
of  Humbolt  Township  is  finely  located  on 
section  36,  and  forms  one  of  the  attractive  spots 
in  the  landscape  of  that  region.  His  estate  includes 
100  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land  in  the  home 
farm,  eighty  acres  on  section  25,  fifty-five  acres  in 
Hickory  Township,  and  ten  acres  of  limber  in  La- 
fayette Township.  Mr.  Burgner  has  distinguished 
himself  as  :ui  active  and  enterprising  agriculturist 
and  a  worthy  citizen,  and  enjoys  in  a  marked  de- 


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COLES   COUNTY. 


gree  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  neighbors  and 
fellow-citizens. 

The  farm  of  Mr.  Burgner  is  chiefly  devoted  to 
stock-raising.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  high-grade 
Short-horn  cattle,  and  has  three  very  valuable  ani- 
mals, registered  in  the  American  Herd  Book.  His 
stables  contain  some  fine  Clydesdale  mares,  and  he 
has  several  colts  and  trotters,  which  have  attracted 
considerable  attention  in  this  section.  He  also 
breeds  choice  Poland-China  hogs.  The  farm  build- 
ings are  tastefully  and  substantially  built,  combin- 
ing beauty  with  utility,  and  indicating  the  taste 
and  means  of  the  proprietor. 

The  subject  of  this  narrative  is  a  native  of  the 
wealthy  and  populous  State  of  Ohio,  and  drew  in 
with  the  air  of  his  native  hills  the  independence  of 
spirit  and  the  substantial  qualities  of  character  which 
marked  his  course  in  life.  His  birth  took  place  in 
Fail-field  County,  Sept.  28,  1850.  His  parents  were 
Conrad  and  Nancy  (Whitesell)  Burgner,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Lebanon  County,  Pa.,  and  Pickaway 
County,  Ohio.  Conrad  Burgner  was  born  Dec.  13, 
1822,  and  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his  na- 
tive State.  He  was  there  married  and  reared  his 
family,  and  removing  further  westward  in  the  fall 
of  1854,  located  in  Lafayette  Township,  this  coun- 
ty, where  he  still  resides  with  his  estimable  wife. 
The  latter  was  born  Oct.  3,  1822,  the  same  year  as 
her  husband. 

George  F.  Burgner  was  the  second  in  a  family 
of  seven  children.  His  brothers  and  sisters  were 
Allen  C.,  a  resident  of  Charleston  Village;  Louisa 
J.,  of  this  township ;  James  E.  and  Mary  E.,  de- 
ceased; Joseph  M.,  a  resident  of  Lafayette  Town- 
ship, and  Rhoda  L.,  the  wife  of  A.  Newby.  Young 
Burgner  remained  with  his  parents  until  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  and  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1876,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Dillie  A., 
daughter  of  Christopher  and  Tabitha  (Tipton) 
Booze.  Mrs.  B.  was  born  April  10,  1856,  at  Mar- 
tinsburg,  Ohio.  Her  parents  were  natives  respect- 
ively of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  the  spring  of  1864.  They  located  in  Whit- 
ley  Township,  Monltrie  County,  where  the  mother 
died  Dec.  2,  1881.  Her  father  is  still  living  and 
occupied  with  farm  pursuits.  The  four  children  of 
the  parental  family  were  Dillie  A.,  Solomon  T., 


George  C.  and  Charles  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burgner 
have  one  child,  a  daughter,  Nina  M.,  born  July  20, 
1878. 

Mr.  Burgner  has  given  most  of  his  attention  to 
his  private  business,  and  has  had  little  time  to  mix 
with  politics  or  local  affairs.  He  gives  his  support 
however,  to  Republican  principles.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  in  good  standing  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  ^nd  socially  Mr.  B.  belongs 
to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  being  connected  with  the  En- 
campment No.  94,  and  Lodge  No.  609.  He  has 
fulfilled  all  the  obligations  of  a  good  citizen,  and 
much  credit  is  due  him  for  his  assistance  in  build- 
ing up  and  developing  the  resources  of  his  adopted 
county. 


ENRY  C.  BARNSBACK,  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  pioneer  families  of  Madison  County, 
HI.,  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate  containing 
320  acres  of  valuable  land  located  on  sec- 
tion 29,  North  Okaw  Township.  He  was  born  July 
17,  1838,  in  Edwardsville,  Madison  Co.,  111.,  and  is 
the  son  of  Julius  L.  and  Mary  M.  (Gonterman) 
Barnsback.  His  grandfather,  Ludwig  lleinrich 
Julius  Barnsback,  was  born  at  Salzliebenhalle.  He 
passed  his  childhood  at  home  with  his  parents,  and 
was  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran  Church  at  (irossen- 
heere.  While  a  boy  he  was  sent  to  his  uncle,  Mr. 
Seideiisticker,  at  Lautenthal,  Hanover,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  learning  the  mining  and  smelting  business 
there.  His  uncle  was  very  faithful  and  judicious 
in  his  training,  requiring  him  to  work  for  a  time  as 
a  common  laborer  in  all  the  different  departments 
of  the  works,  in  order  that  he  might  acquire  a 
practical,  as  well  as  theoretical  knowledge  of  that 
difficult  occupation.  After  several  years  of  dili- 
gent application,  he  was  promoted  to  the  place  of 
Huetten,  master  of  the  silver  mines  at  Lautenthal. 
Soon  afterward  he  married  the  daughter  of  Mayor 
Brauns,  of  Zellerfeld,  and  was  appointed  over-fac- 
tor and  agent  of  the  saltpeter  works  there.  His 
death  occurred  in  1806,  from  the  effects  of  nervous 
fever.  His  family  consisted  of  four  children: 
Julius  Louis  Hans,  born  Aug.  6,  1800,  Augusta 


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COLES   COUNTY. 


209 


Minna,  born  June  6,  1803,  now  deceased,  and  two 
sons  who  died  in  infancy. 

Julius  L.  Bamsback  was  born  in  Lautenthal,  in 
the  Kingdom  of  Hanover,  and  was  six  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  His  mother's 
death  soon  followed,  and  he  was  educated  by  his 
aunt,  Hannah  Bomtrager.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  began  his  business  career  in  the  mining  districts 
of  the  Hartz  Mountains.  But  his  health  was  not 
sufliciently  robust  to  enable  him  to  continue  long 
at  that  very  laborious  occupation,  and  in  company 
with  William  Ernst,  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1820.  On  his  arrival  he  came  directly  to 
Illinois,  where  his  Uncle  George  was  then  residing. 
He  purchased  land  here  and  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1836.  But  this  occupation  also  proving 
unfavorable  on  account  of  his  delicate  physique, 
he  then  made  a  voyage  to  Germany  for  his  health, 
returning  in  the  autumn  of  1837.  Unable  to  re- 
sume the  active  duties  of  farm  life,  and  having  the 
command  of  some  capital,  he  entered  upon  the 
mercantile  business  at  Edwardsville,  making  his 
home  there.  Mr.  Barnsback  lived  an  active,  stir- 
ring life,  during  his  residence  in  America.  In 
1832  he  was  Captain  of  a  company  of  mounted 
riflemen,  and  served  four  months  in  the  campaign 
against  Black  Hawk.  He  also  embarked  in  many 
different  enterprises,  having  been  engaged  in  min- 
ing, surveying,  and  various  agencies.  Although  a 
foreigner,  he  was  interested  in  the  public  affairs  of 
the  county,  and  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace 
iii  Edwardsville,  four  times. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Barnsback,  Sr.,  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  Gonterman,  took  place  in  March,  1827. 
Mrs.  Barnsback  was  born  March  29,  1807,  in  Chris- 
tian County,  Ky.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Hannah  (Ball)  Gonterman.  Her  father's  family 
are  of  German  descent.  She  became  the  mother 
of  seven  children,  as  follows :  Elizabeth  M.,  bom 
Jan.  28,  1828,  was  married  Nov.  4,  1847.  to  John 
A.  Prickett,  a  resident  of  Madison  County,  111.; 
Louis  J.,  born  Jan.  7,  1830,  died  Sept.  7,  1831; 
George  M.,  born  July  21,  1832,  died  Feb.  4,  1847; 
Minna  C.,  born  Nov.  12,  1834,  was  married  Oct.  8, 
1855,  and  is  the  widow  of  David  Gillespie;  she  re- 
sides in  Edwardsville;  Henry  C.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Julius  G.,  born  April  26,  1841,  married 


Miss  Mary  O.  Smith,  June  22,  1865,  and  resides  in 
Edwardsville;  Mary  E.,  deceased,  born  Oct.  20, 
1845,  was  married  June  30,  1864,  to  John  Arm- 
strong; her  death  occurred  Nov.  4,  1886. 

During  their  residence  in  this  country,  the  or- 
thography of  the  family  name  has  been  slightly 
altered,  owing  to  the  difficulty  which  Americans 
found  in  giving  it  the  correct  pronunciation.  The 
original  name  is  Berensbach,  and  the  history  of 
their  family  was  compiled  by  Maj.  August  Berens- 
bach in  Hoyershausen,  in  1818,  and  was  translated 
into  English  in  1842.  When  George  Frederick 
Julius  Berensbach  came  to  the  United  States  he 
found  it  was  very  difficult  for  the  people  to  pro- 
nounce the  last  syllable  of  his  name  properly,  and 
rather  than  attempt  it,  the  neighbors  frequently 
called  him  Barns.  Not  wishing  to  lose  his  name 
entirely,  he  found  himself  compelled  to  alter  the 
final  letter  of  his  name  to  lik,"  and  the  name  finally 
became  Barnsback,  and  he  has  since  used  that 
form  of  orthography,  entering  his  land  and  execut- 
ing his  papers  with  that  signature. 

Henry  C.  Barnsback  was  reared  and  educated  in 
the  early  pioneer  days  of  Illinois.  His  parents 
were  anxious  to  give  him  all  the  advantages  possi- 
ble, and  he  attended  the  subscription  school  dur- 
ing nine  months  of  the  year.  He  made  the  best 
use  of  his  opportunities  there,  and  in  1857  contin- 
ued his  studies  one  term  at  McKendree  College, 
Lebanon,  St.  Clair  Co.,  III.  On  his  return  he  en- 
tered a  printing-office  and  resided  at  home  until 
the  spring  of  1861.  He  then  entered  the  service 
of  his  country,  and  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  9th  III.  Vol. 
Inf.,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Joseph  G.  Rob- 
inson. This  company  was  the  first  one  organized 
in  Edwardsville,  and  was  composed  principally  of 
the  old  Madison  Guards.  He  enlisted  for  tliree 
months,  and  was  sworn  in  April  23, 1861,  and  mus- 
tered out  at  Cairo,  July  27  of  the  same  year.  On 
his  return  home  he  entered  the  field  of  journalism, 
and,  associated  with  James  R.  Brown,  established 
the  Edwardsville  Intelligencer ',  the  publication  of 
which  is  still  continued. 

In  1862  Mr.  Barnsback,  who  is  active  and  enter- 
prising in  business,  sold  out  his  interest  in  the 
paper  and  joined  a  company  on  the  overland  jour- 
ney to  California,  attracted  by  the  mining  interests 


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210 


COLES   COUNTY. 


of  that  State.  He  remained  there,  however,  but 
one  year,  and  on  his  return  home  purchased  the 
interest  of  J.  A.  Prickett,  who  was  associated  with 
his  brother,  Julius  G.,  in  a  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Edwardsville,  which  was  then  carried  on 
under  the  firm  of  Barnsback  <te  Bros.  After  re- 
maining in  this  business  twelve  years  they  closed 
out,  and  Mr.  Barnsback  passed  one  year  of  leisure 
in  order  to  recruit  his  health.  In  the  spring  of 
187G  they  resumed  business  under  the  same  firm, 
and  continued  the  partnership  until  1880,  when 
Henry  Barnsback  sold  out  his  interest  to  his 
brother,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  moved 
to  North  Okaw  Township.  He  owns  320  acres  of 
improved  land,  and  built  a  pleasant  frame  resi- 
dence and  other  substantial  farm  buildings.  There 
is  a  good  tenant  house  on  his  place,  and  Mr.  Barns- 
back  is  chiefly  engaged  in  supervising  the  work, 
having  retired  from  active  labor. 

Mr.  Barnsback's  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  M. 
Montgomery  took  place  Jan.  17,  1877.  Mrs.  Barns- 
back  was  born  Aug.  2,  1844,  in  Madison  County, 
111.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Nelson  and  Eleanor 
(Kinder)  Montgomery.  Her  parents  were  likewise 
natives  of  this  State.  Mr.  Barnsback  is  essentially 
a  self-made  man,  and  has  acquired  his  property 
through  industry  and  close  application  to  business. 
He  has  always  been  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity; and  in  1867  became  a  member  of  Ed- 
wardsville Lodge  No.  99,  of  which  he  has  been 
Secretary  for  five  years. 


'      i 

' 


MORRIS  BURGNER,  a  rising  young  far- 
mer of  Lafayette  Township,  this  county 5 
was  born  Nov.  15, 1860,  and  here  developed 
into  manhood.  He  is  the  youngest  sou  of 
Conrad  Burguer.  Mr.  Burgner,  Sr.,  gave  his 
children  all  the  educational  advantages  possible, 
and  J.  Morris  was  trained  in  his  childhood  at  the 
district  schools,  and  subsequently  attended  Lee's 
Academy  at  Loxa,  and  the  Normal  School  at  Val- 
paraiso, Ind.  He  also  assisted  his  father  and  gained 
a  practical  insight  in  the  duties  of  farming. 


Sept.  15,  1885,  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss 
Anna  Hancock.  Mrs.  Burgner  is  the  daughter  of 
Richard  J.  Hancock,  a  resident  of  Loxa.  She  was 
born  in  Coles  County,  Aug.  9,  1868,  an'd  com- 
pleted her  education  at  Lee's  Academy.  She  is 
an  accomplished  and  charming  young  lady,  and 
upon  the  close  of  her  studies  was  for  a  short  time 
engaged  in  teaching.  After  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Burgner  settled  upon  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides,  which  was  the  gift  of  his  father,  and  con- 
tains 150  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  has  erected 
a  pleasant  resid-ence  and  appropriate  out-buildings, 
and  his  prospects  for  future  prosperity  and  success 
are  promising. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burgner  have  a  beautiful  little  girl 
named  Maud.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Burg- 
ner votes  with  the  Republican  party. 


R.  O.  W.  FERGUSON,  who  for  many  years 
has  been  prominent  among  -the  intelligent 
and  progressive  farmers  of  Mattoon  Town- 
ship, is  the  proprietor  of  a  fine  estate  in- 
cluding 320  acres  of  land,  embellished  with  hand- 
some and  substantial  buildings,  and  supplied  with 
all  the  requirements  of  a  modern  country  home. 
The  Doctor,  who  is  still  a  young  man,  is  a  native  of 
this  county,  and  was  born  six  miles  south  of  Mat- 
toon,  on  the  19th  of  August,  1859.  He  is  the  third 
of  four  children,  the  offspring  of  Myron  J.  and 
Martha  (Williams)  Ferguson.  His  father,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  this  State  with  his  parents 
in  about  1830.  He  settled  in  the  southern  part  of 
Coles  County,  and  not  long  after  ward  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Williams,  and  estab- 
lished himself  with  his  young  wife,  upon  a  tract  of 
land,  where  he  continued  farming  the  greater  part 
of  his  life.  He  dealt  extensively  in  stock  of  all 
kinds,  but,  while  having  upon  his  mind  and 
hands  large  business  interests,  kept  in  mind  at 
the  same  time  the  welfare  of  his  children,  and 
finally  removed  to  the  city  of  Mattoon  in  order  to 
give  them  the  benefit  of  a  good  education.  His 
death  occurred  there  in  1876,  at  which  time  he  was 
interested  in  the  Mattoou  Bank,  and  when  it  became 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


211 


necessary  to  settle  the  estate,  the  crippled  condition 
of  that  institution  swept  away  all  the  property 
which  he  had  accumulated. 

Our  subject  completed  his  education  in  tlie  city 
schools  of  Mattoon,  and  at  an  early  age  entered 
Bellevue  College  Hospital,  in  New  York  City,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  secured  his  degree  of 
M.  D.  He  commenced  practice  in  partnership 
with  Dr.  J.  W.  Dora,  of  Mattoon,  with  whom  he 
had  formerly  studied,  and  continued  until  188o. 
He  then  moved  to  the  country  upon  the  farm  which 
he  occupied  until  the  fall  of  1887,  when  he  again 
resumed  practice  in  the  city,  his  office  being  on  the 
corner  of  First  street  and  Broadway. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  O.  W.  Ferguson  and  Miss 
Jennie  Joseph,  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the 
bride's  parents  on  the  17th  of  May,  1882.  Mrs. 
F.  is  the  eldest  child  of  Harrison  and  Vashti  (Ham- 
rick)  Joseph.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
where  his  -daughter,  Jennie,  was  born  in  1860.  He 
now  carries  on  the  trade  of  a  jeweler  in  Mattoon, 
111.  The  one  child  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ferguson  is  a 
daughter,  Vesta,  born  June  8,  1883.  They  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
the  Doctor  uniformly  votes  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  purchased  his  farm  six  years  ago,  and 
has  superintended  its  operations  since,  while  at  the 
same  time  practicing  moderately,  although  not  en- 
deavoring to  extend  his  territory. 


AVID  C.  DAVIS  owns  and  occupies  a 
snug  farm  of  170  acres  of  fine  land  in 
Ashmore  Township,  pleasantly  located  on 
section  14.  Here  for  the  last  seven  years 
he  has  given  his  principal  attention  to  the  various 
pursuits  of  farm  life,  including  the  breeding  of 
fine  stock,  his  favorites  being  Short-horn  cattle  and 
Clydesdale  horses.  As  a  thorough  business  man 
and  enterprising  inhabitant  of  the  rural  districts, 
he  has  become  one  of  its  most  important  factors, 
and  could  not  well  be  spared  from  its  farming  or 
financial  interests. 

Mr.  Davis  first  drew  breath  Sept.  10,  1839,  in 
Lawrence  County,  Ind.,  at  the  home  of  his  parents, 
Bin  ford  G.  and  Mary  (Edwards)  Davis,  who  were 


among  the  most  highly  respected  residents  of  that 
section.  They  were  natives  respectively  of  Ken- 
tucky and  North  Carolina.  The  father,  born  in 
179G,  followed  farming  all  his  life,  and  died  on  the 
homestead  in  Illinois  in  1871,  after  having  arrived 
at  the  good  old  age  of  seventy-four  years.  Mary, 
his  wife,  who  was  born  in  1817,  is  still  living.  The 
seven  children  of  the  parental  household  were 
Ellen,  Angeline,  David  C.,  of  our  sketch,  Mary  J., 
Adaline,  Alexander  and  Matilda.  Most  of  these 
were  born  in  the  same  county  as  our  subject,  and 
are  living,  some  in  Indiana  and  some  in  this  State. 

Mr.  Davis  continued  with  his  parents  in  his  native 
county  until  a  youth  of  sixteen  years,  then  started 
out  in  life  to  do  for  himself.  He  first  worked  for 
eighteen  months  on  a  farm  for  very  moderate  wages, 
but  having  been  trained  to  habits  ef  economy  by  his 
excellent  parents,  spent  none  of  his  money  foolishly, 
and  after  a  few  years  was  enabled  to  purchase  forty 
acres  of  land.  Of  this  he  took  possession  in  18G3, 
and  proceeded  with  its  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment. He  was  prospered  in  his  honest  labors  and 
wisely  invested  his  surplus  capital  in  more  land. 
He  climbed  up  steadily  on  the  social  and  financial 
ladder,  and  now  presents  the  picture  of  a  self-made 
man,  who  has  arisen  to  a  good  position  in  the  com- 
munity and  in  the  business  world,  solely  by  his 
own  unaided  efforts.  The  farm  is  supplied  with 
good  buildings,  and  our  subject  and  his  family  are 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life.  About  the 
time  of  purchasing  his  first  land,  Mr.  Davis  very 
wisely  secured  unto  himself  a  counselor  and  help- 
mate in  the  person  of  Miss  Mary  McLaughlin,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  Lawrence  Count3',  Aug. 
19,  1862.  Mrs.  Davis,  a  native  of  Indiana,  was 
born  Dec.  22,  1843,  and  of  her  union  with  o:;r  sub- 
ject, became  the  mother  of  five  children.  The 
eldest,  George  M.,  married  Mrs.  Ema  Lowden. 

Mr.  Davis  takes  an  honest  pride  in  the  result  of 
his  stock-breeding  operations,  and  his  stables  con- 
tain some  very  fine  animals.  Among  these  is  the 
stallion  named  Tom,  which  is  one-half  pure  blood 
Clydesdale,  four  years  old,  and  weighs  1,400 
pounds;  he  is  sixteen  hands  high;  and  in  color,  a 
rich  red  roan.  Although  giving  most  of  his  at- 
tention to  his  farm  and  family,  Mr.  Davis  has 
kept  an  eye  upon  the  welfare  of  his  neighbors  and 


*1t* 

[.,    2, 


COLES   COUNTY. 


assisted  them  in  their  efforts  to  maintain  the  dis- 
trict school  in  a  creditable  manner,  giving  to  it  his 
services  as  Trustee  and  his  moral  support  in  carry- 
ing it  on  creditably.  Although  not  meddling  much 
in  politics,  he  believes  in  Democratic  principles,  and 
expresses  his  opinions  decidedly  at  the  polls. 


-,,  LON/O  J.  FUNKHOUSER,  County  Super- 
(@lLJI  intcndent  of  public  schools,  is  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township.  He 
is  the  son  of  Wilson  L.  and  Susanna 
(Thomas)  Funkhouser,  and  was  born  Nov.  24, 
1800,  in  this  county.  His  parents  spared  :io  pains 
in  affording  their  son  an  excellent  education,  and 
until  the  age  of  sixteen,  Alonzo  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  also  assisting  his  father  in  the  lighter 
duties  of  farm  labor.  He  then  attended  Lee's 
Academy  at  Loxa,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1878.  He  passed  the  tirst  year  after  his  graduation 
in  teaching  in  the  public  schools,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1879  entered  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloom- 
ingtou,  111.,  taking  the  law  and  literary  course. 
After  giving  three  years  of  close  application  to 
study  he  was  graduated  by  the  law  department  of 
the  University  in  1882.  Mr.  Fnnkhouser  is  deeply 
interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  and  his  incli- 
nations led  him  to  pursue  that  line  of  work,  rather' 
than  the  practice  of  law,  and  after  leaving  the  Uni- 
versity at  Blooming-ton  he  spent  four  years  in 
teaching  school  and  farming  alternately.  In  1880  he 
was  elected  to  his  present  office  by  a  large  majority. 
It  was  his  first  experience  in  being  a  candidate  for 
any  office,  and  resulted  successfully. 

Mr.  Funkhouser  is  a  very  efficient  and  fluent 
public  speaker,  and  has  evidently  chosen  the  voca- 
tion best  adapted  to  his  mental  abilities,  which  are 
of  a  high  order.  He  is  now  engaged  in  arranging 
and  perfecting  a  systematized  plan  of  work  for  the 
county  schools,  by  which  it  is  proposed  to  establish 
a  uniform  course  of  study  for  the  ungraded  schools. 
When  he  first  began  teaching  he  received  $28.50 
per  month  for  his  services,  but  his  rare  ability  in 
imparting  instruction  was  soon  recognized,  and  his 
salary  was  increased  until  he  finally  received  $70  per 


month  for  teaching  county  schools.  Mr.  F.  recog- 
nizes the  importance  of  moral  training  as  an  ad- 
junct of  intellectual  culture.  He  is  a  lecturer  and 
earnest  worker  in  the  Sunday-schools,  and  is  also 
actively  interested  in  the-  Methodist  Church,  of 
which  he  is  a  member.  His  influence  in  educational 
affairs  has  already  been  widely  felt  throughout  the 
county,  205  teachers  attending  the  county  institute 
in  July,  1887,  which  is  three  times  the  number  of  at- 
tendance in  any  previous  year,  and  is  an  evidence  of 
the  deep  interest  onr  subject  has  awakened  among 
the  teachers.  Mr.  F.  is  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason, 
having  been  made  Senior  Warden  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three,  and  Master  the  following  year. 


AMES  T.  BROWN,  a  native  of  this  county, 
is  located  in  Seven  Hickory  Township  on 
section  30,  where  he  took  up  his  abode  in 
1878.  His  birth  took  place  Nov.  12,  1838, 

X? — rs 

on  the  Kickapoo  River,  south  of  Charleston.  He  is 
the  son  of  Abner  and  Edie  J.  (Glassco)  Brown,  the 
former  born  in  Tennessee,  in  1821,  and  the  latter  in 
Hardin  County,  Ky.,  the  year  after.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  and  joined  his  children  later  in  this  State, 
where  his  death  took  place  in  Brown  County,  in 
about  1852. 

The  children  of  Abner  and  Edie  Brown,  nine  in 
number,  are  recorded  as  follows:  James  T..  of  our 
sketch,  was  the  eldest;  Martha  died  when  not  quite 
two  years  of  age;  Mary  R.,  born  in  Missouri,  be- 
came the  wife  of  George  W.  Gideon,  of  Lafayette 
Township,  and  the  mother  of  nine  children,  all 
living;  John  married  Miss  Susan  A.  Martin,  and 
they  have  four  children,  and  are  residing  on  a  farm 
in  Humbolt  Township;  Robert  R.,  born  in  Brown 
County,  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Blue,  of  Indiana, 
who  died  in  early  life,  and  he  then  went  South,  and 
married  Miss  Hattic  Whittakcr,  of  Arkansas,  in 
which  State  they  are  now  living,  and  have  two  chil- 
dren; Enoch  O.  married  Miss  Maggie  Reed,  who 
became  the  mother  of  a  son.  and  departed  this  life 
in  Coles  County,  while  a  young  woman;  lie  after- 
ward marrried  the  sister  of  his  brother's  wife,  a 


COLES   COUNTY. 


213 


Miss  Whittaker,  of  Arkansas,  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  Boliver  County,  Miss.,;  Margaret,  born  in  this 
county,  became  the  wife  of  George  N.  Todd,  of 
Ohio,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Mattoon,  being  the 
mother  of  two  children;  Alice  S.,  also  a  native  of 
this  county,  became  the  wife  of  Jerome  W.  Miller, 
and  the  mother  of  two  children;  they  are  now  liv- 
ing in  Boone  County,  Neb. ;  Linton,  bcy-n  in  this 
county,  died  when  a  lad  of  seven  or  eight  years  old. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  cam'e  to  this  county 
each  with  their  fathers'  families,  and  were  here 
reared  and  married.  They  located  south  of  Charles- 
ton, where  the  elder  Brown  engaged  in  farming, 
and  where  his  son  has  succeeded  to  the  homestead. 
The  latter,  with  the  exception  of  four  years  spent 
in  the  grocery  trade  at  Charleston,  has  passed 
nearly  the  whole  of  his  life  on  the  farm  which  he 
now  occupies. 

The  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was  married 
in  Charleston  Township,  Oct.  25,  1860,  was  in  her 
girlhood  Miss  Melissa  Veach,  a  native  of  this 
county,  and  has  remained  a  resident  of  the  county 
since.  Her  parents,  Jesse  and  Maria'  (Johnson) 
Veach,  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  and  had  a  family 
of  seven  children,  including  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Mr.  V.  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-seven  years,  departing  this  life  at  his 
home  in  Charleston,  in  the  spring  of  1884.  The 
mother  is  still  living,  and  a  resident  of  Ilnmbolt 
Township,  making  her  home  with  her  daughter. 

The  seven  children  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
are  recorded  as  follows:  Edna  C.,  born  Sept.  2, 
1862,  was  naturally  studious,  and  perfected  herself 
as  a  teacher,  which  calling  she  has  followed  some 
time  in  Nebraska;  Eugene  W.,  born  Sept.  13,  1865, 
married  Miss  Venie  Goff,  of  this  county,  and  is  car- 
rying on  farming  in  Seven  Hickory;  Carrie  May 
was  born  in  1868,  and  died  in  March,  1869,  when 
about  one  year  old;  Harry  L.,  born  March  31, 
1870;  Walter,  Dec.  4,  1872;  Lillic  A.,  Jan.  7,  1874, 
and  Georgie,  Nov.  29,  1879,  are  all  at  home  with 
their  parents. 

Mr..  Brown  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
local  affairs  since  reaching  his  majority.  He  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  has  always 
been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party. 
He  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  Circuit  Clerk 


in  1868,  but  the  Democrats  being  in  the  minority 
he  was  "counted  out"  with  the  balance  of  his 
ticket.  This  was  the  year  of  the  Presidential  elec- 
tion, and  Grant  carried  the  county  by  a  majority  of 
411.  The  fact  that  Mr.  Brown  was  only  280  votes 
behind  his  competitor,  indicates  the  position  which 
he  occupies  in  the  popular  mind.  He  was  Town- 
ship Clerk  from  1862  to  the  fall  of  1868,  and  has 
represented  the  township  in  the  County  Board  of 
Supervisors  two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.,  witli  their 
eldest  daughter,  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  family  en- 
joy the  society  and  friendship  of  the  best  people  in 
the  section. 


E.  RAY,  proprietor  of  a' large  livery  and  sale- 
stable  in  Charleston,  under  the  firm  name  of 
S.  E.  Ray  &  Son,  is  one  of  the  active,  en- 
terprising business  men  of  the  city.  He 
was  born  Aug.  5,  1833,  in  Montpelier,  Vt.,  and  is 
the  son  of  George  G.  and  Betsy  (Billingsley)  Ray, 
the  former  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  the  latter  of 
New  York.  George  Ray  was  a  farmer  in  his  na- 
tive State,  and  came  West  in  1833,  settling  in  Lake 
County,  Ohio.  That  State  is  noted  for  its  agricult- 
ural resources,  and  Mr.  Ray  successfully  engaged 
in  farming  there,  making  it  his  home  for  life.  He 
belongs  to  a  substantial  old  New  England  family 
and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  In  politics, 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Henry  Clay  Whig  pnrty. 
Himself  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  actively  interested  in  promoting  the 
cause  of  religion.  Mrs.  Ray,  who  has  attained  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety  years,  is  still  living  in  Ohio. 
They  had  a  family  of  twelve  children  born  to  them. 
.S.  E.  Ray  was  reared  on  his  Lather's  farm,  receiv- 
ing a  good  common-school  education  and  acquir- 
ing a  practical  knowledge  of  the  details  of  farming. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of 
age,  and  was  then  employed  by  the  Geauga  Iron 
Company  as  Collector,  and  traveled  for  them  two 
years.  He  was  next  employed  by  Luce  &  Co., 
blank-book  manufacturers  at  La  Fayette.  Ind.,  and 
traveled  for  that  firm  six  years,  selling  and  collect- 
ing through  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Minnesota, 
lie  then  accepted  the  same  position  for  Culver, 


214 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Page  &  IToync,  of  Chicago,  and  was  employed  by 
that  firm  five  and  one-half  years.  In  1 862  Mr.  Ray 
came  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness in  Charleston,  but  soon  sold  out  and  started  a 
livery  stable.  He  built  his  barn  in  1866,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  occupation  until  1875,  when  he  sold 
out  again  and  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  line.  In 
six  years  he  sold  out  again  and  re-entered  the  livery 
business,  in  connection  with  which  he  has  engaged 
in  buying  and  shipping  horses.  He  keeps  a  fine 
stock  of  horses  and  carriages  and  his  former  estab- 
lishment was  the  oldest  in  Charleston. 

March  31,  1863,  Mr.  Ray  was  married  to  Miss 
Josephine  Bunne.ll,  of  this  city,  but  their  married 
life  was  of  short  duration.  Mrs.  Ray  died  Sept. 
18,  1867,  leaving  one  child,  Henrietta,  since  de- 
ceased. He  was  married  the  second  time,  Dec.  10, 
1867,  to  Mrs. ..Elizabeth  J.  Wilhoit,  of  Edgar  Coun- 
ty, 111.,  the  sister  of  his  first  wife.  They  have 
one  son,  Samuel  A.  William  Bunnell,  Mrs.  Ray's 
father,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  In  1835  he  came 
to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Edgar  County, 
but  subsequently  removed  to  Charleston,  where  he 
was  for  ten  years  proprietor  of  a  hotel. 

Mr.  Ray  is  interested  in  municipal  affairs,  and 
was  President  of  the  Board  of  Education  four  years, 
and  also  served  two  terms  as  Alderman.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  the  Knights  of  Honor. 


yiLLIAM  L.  R.  FUNKHOUSER  is  a  public- 
spirited  citizen  of  Coles  County,  and  his 
farm,  containing  100  acres  of  well-im- 
proved land,  is  located  on  section  4,  Pleasant  Grove 
Township.  He  is  the  son  of  Wilson  L.  and  Mary 
(Henry)  Funkhouser,  and  was  born  Jan.  14,  1854, 
in-  the  township  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  reared 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  in  the  meantime  received 
a  good  common-school  education,  and  was  also 
trained  in  the  various  branches  of  farm  labor,  an 
education  requisite  to  success  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. 

Mr.  Funkhouser  was  married,  April  23,  1876,  to 
Miss  Alice  Raines.     Mrs.  Funkhouser  is  the  daugh- 
1      ter  of  George  and  Harriet  (Maize)  Raines,  and  was 


: 


born  in  Lafayette  Township,  Coles  County,  Dec.  1, 
1858.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  F.  settled  upon  the 
farm  he  now  occupies,  and  has  since  carried  on  an 
extensive  farming  business  there,  bringing  his  land 
to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Funk- 
houser had  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  died  in  infancy;  those  still  living  are  Alice 
L.,  Mary  H.  and  George  W. 

In  politics  Mr.  Funkhouser  is  a  Republican,  and 
is  always  read}'  to  assist  in  promoting  the  interest 
of  his  party.  He  has  served  as  Township  Collector, 
giving  general  satisfaction  to  the  people  in  discharg- 
ing the  public  duties  of  that  position,  With  his 
wife  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
is  a  member  of  Muddy  Point  Lodge  No.  396,  of 
which  he  is  a  Warden,  and  also  a  member  of  the 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Mattoon  Chapter  No.  85,  R.  A.  M. 


ERVEY  FOWLER,  deceased,  closed  his 
eyes  upon  the  scenes  of  earth  at  his  home 
in  Charleston  Township,  on  the  20th  of 
December,  1877,  while  still  in  the  prime  of 
life,  being  little  past  the  age  of  forty-six  j'ears. 
His  birth  took  place  in  Tennessee,  Sept.  24,  1831. 
His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Speer)  Fowler, 
natives  of  the  same  State,  whence  they  removed 
when  their  son  was  a  boy  of  seven  years.  Coming 
to  Illinois  they  located  in  this  county,  where  the 
death  of  both  parents  took  place,  the  father  dying 
in  1845,  and  the  mother  in  1885,  the  latter  reach- 
ing the  advanced  age  of  ninety -two  years. 

Hervey  Fowler  was  the  seventh  of  a  family  of 
eight  children,  and  spent  his  childhood  and 
youth  amid  the  scenes  of  rural  life.  He  became  ex- 
pert in  all  the  employments  of  the  farm,  and 
after  reaching  manhood  was  united  in  marriage, 
Thursday,  Nov.  8,  1855,  to  Miss  Harriett,  daughter 
of  Isaac  and  Cathrin  Craig.  Mrs.  Fowler  was  born 
on  her  father's  farm  in  Charleston  Township  Jan. 
4,  1837.  She  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Fowler,  and  they 
located  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  owned  by  the 
latter.  He  was  prospered  in  his  labors,  invested  his 
surplus  capital  wisely,  and  added  'to  his  landed  area 
until  he  had  become  the  possessor  of  1 90  acres.  He 


COLES   COUNTY. 


215 


became  prominent  among  his  townsmen  as  a  man 
capable  of  representing  their  interests,  and  held 
the  various  offices  at  different  times.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fowler  became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  only  one  survives,  a  son,  Isaac,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  his  mother's  home. 

Mrs.  Fowler  after  the  death  of  her  husband  con- 
tinued on  the  homestead,  and  in  1880  became  the 
wife  of  Luther  C.  Mitchell,  the  wedding  being  cele- 
brated March  17,  at  the  home  of  the  bride.  She  is 
a  lady  greatly  respected  for  her  excellent  qualities 
and  is  the  center  of  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends. 


HILLIP  ASHBY,  an  extensive  stock- 
grower  and  dealer,  owns  a  flue  estate  con- 
taining  300  acres  of  valuable,  well-im- 
proved land  located  on  section  4,  Hutton 
Township.  Mr;  Ashby  is  a  prominent  citizen,  and 
represents  an  old  and  honored  pioneer  family  of 
this  county.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Redding)  Ashby,  and  was  bovn  in  this  township, 
April  24,  1832.,  His  paternal  grandparents,  Joseph 
and  Abecca/.(McGinnis)  Ashby,  were  natives  of 
New  York,  and  soon-  after  their  marriage  removed 
to  Halifax  County,  Va.»  where  they  passed  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  His  father,  John  Ashby, 
was  born  there  in  1778.  The  early  years  of  the 
colonists  in  Virginia  were  greatly  disturbed  by 
Indian  wars  and  at  a  later  period  that  State  took 
a  prominent  part  in  the  French  wars  and  the  Rev- 
olution, and  during  John's  boyhood  society  there 
was  in  a  crude  and  formative  state.  The  educa- 
tional advantages  were  very  limited,  and  with  his 
wife,  he  learned  to  read  and  write  after  their 
marriage.  Mrs.  Ashby  was  born  in  1780,  in  Hali- 
fax County,  Va.,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Rachel  Reddiug,  who  were  likewise  natives  of 
the  same  cou.i\ty.  During  his  boyhood.  Mr. 
Ashby  had  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  im- 
mediately after  his  marriage  he  removed  with  his 
young  wife  by  wagon  to  Tennessee,  where  he  pur- 
chased land  near  Columbus,  and  was  for  three  years 
engaged  in  fanning  there  and  also  working  at  his 
trade. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time  Mr.  A.,  Sr.,  sold 
out  and  removed  to  North  Carolina,  and  after  re- 


maining  there  a  short  time  went  to  Crawford 
County,  111.  He  remained  there  one  year  and  then 
came  to  Coles  County,  being  one  of  its  earliest 
pioneers.  Here  he  entered  forty  acres  of  timbered 
land  on  section  9,  Hutton  Township,  the  property 
now  owned  by  Joshua  Johns.  During  the  years 
1830,  1831  and  1833,  he  entered  160  acres  of  land 
on  section  4,  where  he  built  a  log  house  in  the 
primitive  fashion  and  settled  with  his  family.  He 
opened  the  first  blacksmith-shop  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship, not  far  from  the  present  village  of  Salisbury. 
The  county  was  at  that  time  an  almost  unbroken 
wilderness,  and  many  settlers  who  came  prior  to 
1832  often  lived  in  their  wagons  until  they  could 
erect  a  cabin,  in  the  meantime  cutting  the  timber 
from  the  forests  for  that  purpose,  near  which  the 
early  settlements  were  usually  made.  He  cultivated 
and  improved  his  land,  carrying  on  a  successful 
business  there,  and  in  the  year  1855  manufactured 
the  brick  and  erected  a  fine  residence. -Iwhich  his 
son  Phillip  now  occupies.  '  His  death  occurred  on 
the  homestead  in  Hutton  Township,  in  1864,  and 
his  widow  who  survived  him  two  years,  died  at  the 
same  place  in  1866. 

John  Ashby  was  a  generous,  kind-hearted  man, 
conspicuous  for  his  hospitality  to  all.  With  his 
wife  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  in  which  for  thirty  years  he  was  an  Elder 
and  Deacon,  and  his  house  was  ever  open  for  the 
entertainment  of  ministers  representing  any  de- 
nomination, interested  in  building  up  the  cause  and 
establishing  the  faith  of  our  common  Lord  and 
Master.  He  was  beloved  and  respected  by  the 
entire  community,  where  the  uprightness  and  in- 
tegrity of  his  character  exerted  a  wide  and  benefi- 
cent influence.  His  family  consisted  of  sixteen 
children,  as  follows:  Henry,  born  in  Tennessee, 
deceased;  Wijliam,  born  in  Tennessee,  married 
Miss  Sarah  Ann  Beaver,  and  is  a  resident  of  Coles 
County-;  Miry,  born  in  Tennessee,  was  the  wife  of 
Alexander  Baker;  both  are  deceased.  John,  de- 
ceased, was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  married  Mis.s 
Mary  M.  JJarrick;  his  widow  resides  in  Kansas. 
Nancy,  born  in  Tennessee,  was  the  wife  of  George 
Lamb,  but  is  now  deceased;  Eliza,  born  in  North 
Carolina;  died  in  childhood.  Rebecca,  born  in 
North  Carolina,  was  the  wife  of  Isaac  Wilson ;  both 


4 


216 


COLES   COUNTY 


are  deceased.  Joseph,  born  in  North  Carolina, 
married  Miss  Samantha  Gardner;  his  wife  is  now 
dead;  James,  born  in  Crawford  County,  111., 
married  Miss  Margaret  Goodman,  and  resides  in 
Kansas;  Robert,  born  in  Crawford  County,  III., 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Hodge,  and  both  are  de- 
ceased; Eleatha  Ann,  born  in  Coles  County,  111., 
was  the  wife  of  George  W.  Brooks;  both  are 
deceased.  Phillip,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Nathaniel,  born  in  Coles  County,  married  Miss 
Abaslia  Riggins,  and  resides  in  Cumberland  County, 
111. ;  Stephen  was  born  in  this  county,  where  he 
now  resides,  and  is  married  to  Miss  Mary  Smith ; 
Martha,  born  in  Coles  County,  is  the  wife  of  John 
Cartright,  and  resides  in  California,  and  Edwin, 
likewise  born  in  this  county,  married  Miss  Cor- 
nelia Wright,  and  resides  in  Charleston. 
X  Phillip  Asliby  was  reared  in  the  early  pioneer 
days  of  this  county,  and  the  only  educational 
privileges  afforded  him  were  those  found  in  the 
subscription  schools  of  that  period,  which  he 
attended  about  three  months  during  the  winter 
season,  and  in  the  summer  time  assisted  his  father 
on  the  farm  and  in  the  shop.  He  lived  at  the 
homestead  until  his  marriage  wijth  Miss  Margaret 
L.  Smith,  which  occurred  May  9,  1852.  Mrs. 
Ashby  was  born  Jan.  16,  1834,  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship, and  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Goodman)  Smith.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Indiana.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Ashby  purchased 
forty  acres  of  partly  improved  land  of  his  father, 
and  also  engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land  for 
about  eight  years.  In  the  meantime  he  cultivated 
and  improved  his  own  land,  and  purchased  two 
farms  containing  fifty  acres  each,  one  of  which  is 
known  us  the  Gilbert  farm  and  the  other  as  the 
Harmon  Smith  farm.  He  subsequently  exchanged 
the  two  latter  purchases  with  his  brother  Stephen, 
for  ninety  acres  of  the  old  homestead.  He  has 
made  some  additional  purchases  and  his  estate  now 
contains  300  acres  of  well- improved  land,  with  sub- 
stantial and  well-appointed  residences  and  farm- 
buildings;  160  acres  of  this  property  is  the  land 
which  his  father  entered  during  the  years  1830, 
1831  and  1833,  and  Mr.  Ashby  has  in  his  posses- 
sion the  sheepskin  his  father  received  from  the  Land 
Commissioner  of  Palestine,  Crawfoid  Count}-, 


bearing  the  signature  of  Andrew  Jackson,  which 
he  prizes  highly  as  a  relic  of  the  early  days.  He 
recollects  seeing  the  Indians  about  their  home, 
fierce  with  war  paint  and  feathers,  bearing  little 
resemblance  to  those  now  seen  at  times  in  Western 
towns  and  villages.  The  land  entered  by  John 
Ashby  has  remained  intact  in  the  family  since  that 
time,  and  has  never  been  encumbered  with  a  mort- 
gage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashby  have  had  a  family  of  nine 
children  born  to  them:  Elizabeth  C.,  born  Aug. 
18,  1853,  died  in  infancy;  John  H.,  born  Sept.  4, 
1855;  Nellie  J.,  born  June  13, 1857,  died  in  infancy; 
Stephen  A.  D.,  born  May  20,  1858,  married  Miss 
Dosia  Brooks;  Sarah  E.,  born  in  1861,  married  J. 
A.  Colby;  Mattie  B.,  born  in  1865,  married  Willie 
Griffin;  Nora,  born  in  1864,  died  in  child-hood; 
Walter  C.  married  Elizabeth  Scott,  and  Joseph  N., 
born  in  1867.  The  home  circle  was  broken  by  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Ashby  in  1871. 

Mr.  Ashby  is  active  and  enterprising  in  business, 
and  deals  extensively  in  stock,  buying  cattle,  sheep 
and  hogs,  shipping  mostly  to  Chicago  and  Indian- 
apolis. He  is  a  public-spirited  man,  and  is  inter- 
ested in  all  measures  relating  to  the  interests  of  the 
county  which  has  been  the  home  of  his  family  for 
so  many  years.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Commis- 
sioners of  Highways,  and  with  Messrs.  D.  Brooks 
and  E.  R.  Connelly  laid  out  the  town  in  roads  and 
districts,  and  has  served  several  terms  in  that  posi- 
tion. He  was  elected  Supervisor  by  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  of  which  he  has  always  been  a  warm 
supporter,  serving  one  term,  and  has  also  served 
several  terms  as  School  Director.  His  first  vote 
was  cast  for  James  Buchanan.  Mr.  Ashby  is  a 
self-made  man,  having  earned  all  the  property  he 
now  owns  by  industry  and  energy.  He  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  a  member  of  Hutton 
Lodge  No.  698,  of  Diona. 


yiLLIAM  H.  ROBERTS,  a  successful  stock- 
grower    of    East    Oakland    Township,    is 
located  on  section  9.      He   was  born  Oct. 
17,    1840,  in   Muskingum  County,    Ohio,    and   re- 
moved  to   Illinois   with  his  parents,   Thomas  and 
Alice  (Mock)    Roberts,   both   natives  of  Virginia, 


COLES  COUNTY. 


21? 


the  father  born  Oct.  12,  1802,  and  the  mother  Nov. 
8,  1808,  in  Londouii  County,  where  their  marriage 
took  place,  and  from  which  State  they  removed  to 
Ohio  in  1830,  and  remained  there  until  they  migra- 
ted to  Illinois  iu  I860.  They  purchased  a  farm  of 
2G5  acres  of  improved  land  in  East  Oakland  Town- 
ship, and  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives  here. 
The  parents  of  Thomas  Roberts  possessed  but  lit- 
tle wealth,  save  their  intelligence  and  integrity  of 
character.  His  father  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  and 
Thomas,  when  a  boy  of  thirteen,  bravely  bore  his 
share  of  the  burdens,  hiring  out  by  the  mouth  to 
do  farm  work  in  order  to  assist  his  parents.  He 
also  attended  the  common  school  and  applied  him- 
self diligently  in  the  short  intervals  that  could  be 
spared  from  toil,  and  thus  acquired  a  good  practi- 
cal education.  He  cut  his  way  through  the  snow- 
drifts in  the  winter  to  the  old  school-house,  and  in 
the  summer  worked  on  the  farm"  a  happy  "bare- 
foot boy,"  though  deprived  of  many  of  the  pleas- 
ures incident  to  childhood  and  youth,  and  grew  up 
to  manhood  strong  and  self-reliant,  prepared  to 
battle  with  the  world. 

February  7,  1828,  Thomas  Roberts  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Alice  Mock,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  Mock.  Her  family  were  of  German 
extraction.  The  life  of  Jacob  Mock,  her  father, 
was  brought  to  a  sudden  close  by  a  sad  tragedy. 
One  night  in  August,  1837,  he  failed  to  return 
home  at  the  usual  time.  As  the  night  wore  on,  the 
family  grew  alarmed  and  listened  anxiously  to 
every  sound  in  the  hope  of  hearing  his  accustomed 
step.  As  soon  as  the  first  ray  of  morning  dawned, 
inquiries  were  made  and  a  search  instituted,  which 
resulted  in  a  ghastly  discovery.  His  hat  was  found 
in  a  tree,  pierced  by  some  instrument,  and  his  body 
in  the  creek,  which  ran  through  his  own  farm,  his 
head  also  bearing  evidences  of  having  been  cut  by 
something  sharp.  It  is  supposed  that  he  was  mur- 
dered and  robbed,  as  he  sometimes  carried  large 
sums  of  money  with  him,  but  no  clew  was  ever 
found  to  the  perpetrators  of  the  terrible  deed,  and 
it  has  remained  one  of  the  unsolvable  mysteries  of 
life.  He  left  a  family  of  nine  children,  as  follows: 
John  1).,  George,  Joseph,  James  T.,  Isaac  F., 
Phu'be,  Susan,  Mary  E.  and  Alice. 

Thomas    and    Alice    Roberts    had    a    family    of 


twelve  children  born  to  them,  named  as  follows: 
Jacob  A.,  born  Nov.  3,  1828,  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years;  Mary  E.,  born  Jan.  19,  1833,  married 
George  Geyer;  Matilda  A.,  born  June  26,  1834, 
married  Peter  Gobert;  Stephen,  born  Nov.  22,1838, 
died  in  November,  1840;  William  H.,  born  Oct. 
17,  1840;  Caroline,  born  April  27,  1842,  married 
J.  W.  Titus;  Isaac  N.,  born  Jan.  6,  1846,  married 
Miss  Almeda  Davis;  Castara,  born  March  6,  1844, 
married  B.  F.  Taylor;  John  D.,  born  March  5,  1850, 
married  Miss  Mary  Prather;  Sarah  J.,  born  March 
11,1848,  married  Francis  Parker;  Sherman  W., 
born  Jan.  1 1,  1852,  married  Miss  Sarah  Dollar,  and 
James  B.,  born  Oct.  9,  1854,  died  Aug.  22,  1872. 
The  death  of  the  father  occurred  Aug.  6,  1879. 
He  was  for  many  years  a  Trustee  and  Class-Leader 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  religious 
faith,  which  was  practical  and  earnest,  was  illus- 
trated by  his  daily  life,  and  in  politics  he  was  a 
warm  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 

William  H.  Roberts  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  E.  Reed,  April  24,  1866.  She  was 
born  Feb.  20,  1844,  in  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Lamb) 
Reed.  John  W.  Reed  is  a  retired  farmer  and  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  Sept.  30,  1817.  He  has  been 
for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  although  not  actively  engaged  in  business,  he 
is  interested  in  all  the  current  affairs  of  the  day.  He 
was  thrice  married,  his  first  wife  dying  when  Mrs. 
•  Roberts  was  a  child,  and  there  has  been  no  record 
of  her  family  preserved.  She  was  the  mother  of 
three  children:  Francis  M.,  who  married  Miss 
Anna  Lumbrick;  John,  who  died  in  infancy,  and 
Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  our  subject.  Mr.  Reed  was 
married  the  second  time  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Ashmore, 
who  died  within  a  year,  leaving  no  children.  His 
third  wife  was  Eliza  C.  Moffett.  To  our  subject 
and  wife  there  have  been  born  three  children,  re- 
corded as  follows:  Arminta  A.,  born  Dec.  28, 
1867;  James  B.,  July  6,  1875,  and  an  infant  un- 
named, who  died  Jan.  15,  1872. 

When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  William  H.  Rob- 
erts enlisted  in  the  defense  of  his  country  Aug.  8, 
1862,  as  a  private  in  Co.  H.,  79th  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  served  three  years.  He  belonged  to  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  and  on  Dec.  31,  1862,  was 


4 


t  .  218 


COLES   COUNTY. 


severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River  by 
a  minie  ball,  which  passed  through  the  calf  of  the 
left  leg.  While  he  lay  wounded  in  the  hospital, 
inflammatory  erysipelas  set  in,  and  one  night  the 
attending  nurse  gave  him  by  mistake  a  tablespoon- 
ful  of  nitric  acid,  which  proved  a  more  dangerous 
dose  than  the  cold  lead  of  the  enemy,  and  would 
have  cost  him  his  life  but  for  the  prompt  and  effi- 
cient remedies  that  were  administered.  He  was 
compelled  to  swallow  three  army-tinfuls  of  sweet 
oil  to  neutralize  the  acid,  followed  by  copious 
draughts  of  warm  water,  which  acted  as  an  emetic 
and  saved  his  life.  He  remained  in  the  hospital 
until  the  following  May,  when  his  strength  was  re- 
stored, and  he  was  permitted  to  rejoin  his  regiment. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  stubborn  fight  at  Resaca 
and  in  the  brilliantly  fought  battle  of  Dallas,  where 
Gen.  Logan  so  signally  distinguished  himself.  He 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Rocky  Face,  and  was  also 
in  many  skirmishes  during  the  progress  of  the  war, 
and  at  its  close  was  mustered  out  of  service  and 
discharged  at  Springfield,  111.,  June  23,  1865. 

Mr.  Roberts  owns  160  acres  of  valuable  land, 
which  is  highly  cultivated,  and  improved  with 
pleasant  and  substantial  farm  buildings.  He  owns 
fifty  head  of  Hereford  and  two  head  of  full-blooded 
cattle.  His  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  he  has  been  one  of  its  Trust- 
ees for  the  last  two  years. 


t 


ILLIAM  H.  DRISH,  the  son  of  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  Illinois,  was  born  in 
Greene  County,  Feb.  26,  1844,  and  is  the 
fifth  child  of  John  W.  and  Martha  L.  (Adams) 
Drish,  of  Loudoun  County,  Va.  His  father  was  a 
practicing  physician,  and  after  following  his  pro- 
fession a  few  years  in  his  native  State  emigrated  to 
Illinois  in  about  1836,  locating  in  Greene  County 
when  there  was  not  a  settlement  within  fifty  miles 
of  his  pioneer  home.  He  was  possessed  of  some 
means  and  became  an  extensive  land-owner.  He 
continued  his  practice  but  superintended  the  culti- 
vation and  improvement  of  his  land,  and  was  the 
original  projector  of  the  town  of  White  Hall,  which 
he  platted,  and  was  instrumental  in  its  settlement 


and  progress.  This  has  become  one  of  the  im- 
portant towns  of  Greene  County,  and  where  the 
wild  creatures  of  the  prairie  formerly  roamed  is  now 
located  a  flourishing  community.  Mr.  Drish  also 
secured  the  establishment  of  schools  and  churches, 
one  of  the  first  teachers  being  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
who  acted  as  pedagogue  in  a  little  log  school-house 
on  the  prairie.  That  structure  long  since  gave 
place  to  an  ample  frame  building  and  everything 
about  it  has  been  in  keeping. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  man  of  broad 
culture  and  widespread  influence,  and  possessed  a 
ready  command  of  language.  He  was  largely  in- 
terested in  mercantile  business,  and  was  instrumen- 
tal in  the  building  up  of  many  enterprises  calcu- 
lated for  the  good  of  the  people  and  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  town.  Politically  he  was  a  stanch  Whig 
until  the  abandonment  of  the  old  party,  and  then 
cordially  allied  himself  with  the  Republicans.  He 
was  tin  extensive  reader  and  kept  himself  well  in- 
formed upon  current  events.  His  death  took  place 
Oct.  10,  1861,  about  the  time  when  the  mutterings 
of  rebellion  presaged  the  coming  on  of  the  late 
Civil  War.  The  wife  and  mother  survived  her 
husband  about  twenty-four  years,  her  death  taking 
place  in  1885,  after  she  had  arrived  at  an  advanced 
age. 

The  subject  of  this  history  received  his  education 
mostly  in  the  common  schools,  and  early  in  life  be- 
gan to  lay  his  plans  for  the  future.  When  sixteen 
j'ears  of  age  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  service, 
becoming  a  member  of  the  91st  Illinois  Infantry, 
from  which,  however,  he  was  soon  transferred  to 
the  122d.  With  him  also  was  his  brother,  who  held 
the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Young  William, 
with  his  comrades,  was  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  Gens.  Smith  and  Thomas  in  the  Army  of 
the  West,  which  eventually  constituted  the  right 
wing  of  Gen.  Sherman's  command.  He  first  saw 
active  service  at  Trenton,  Tenn.,  against  the  rebel 
General,  Forrest,  and  was  captured,  but  afterward 
paroled.  He  was  exchanged  about  fifteen  months 
later,  and  joined  his  regiment  at  Ft.  Blakely,  Miss. 
He  followed  the  campaign  in  the  same  company  as 
an  Orderly,  at  regimental  headquarters,  meeting 
with  many  hairbreadth  escapes,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  war  was  mustered  out  unharmed,  Oct.  25,  18G5, 


COLES   COUNTY. 


219 


at  New  Orleans.  His  journeyings  through  the  South 
and  his  opportunities  for  sight-seeing  form  a  chap- 
ter in  his  history  with  which  he  would  not  willingly 
part. 

After  his  return  to  civil  life  Mr.  Drish  resumed 
his  old  life  in  his  native  county  and  engaged  as 
clerk  in  a  general  store  at  White  Hall.  He  after- 
ward became  connected  with  a  drug-store  in  the 
same  capacity,  but  nine  months  later  on  account  of 
ill-health  was  obliged  to  abandon  indoor  pursuits. 
Afterward  he  engaged  in  teaming  two  years.  On 
the  28th  of  March,  1871,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  E.  Neece,  a  native  of  Greene 
County,  111.,  born  Feb.  22,  1844,  and  the  daughter 
of  Henry  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Barring)  Neece,  na- 
tives of  Middle  Tennessee.  The  young  people  be- 
gan life  together  on  a  farm  in  Greene  County.  He 
soon  afterward  purchased  120  acres  partially  im- 
proved in  Paradise  Township,  which  he  occupied 
until  1879.  Then  selling  this  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence near  the  village  of  Humbolt,  for  two  years, 
and  engaged  in  harness-making,  where  he  is  still 
employed.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drish  have  one  child,  a 
son,  Frank  W.,  now  (1887)  a  lad  of  fifteen  years. 

Mr.  Drish  uniformly  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  although  not  taking  any  active  part  in  politics 
or  desiring  office.  He  has  served  the  citizens  of 
the  village  as  an  Alderman  several  terms,  and  is  a 
man  of  excellent  judgment,  who  is  frequently  called 
into  the  counsels  of  his  fellow-citizens  upon  matters 
pertaining  to  the  general  welfare,  Both  he  and  his 
estimable  lady  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


'NDREW  FEAGAN  is  located  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  Charleston  Township, 
where  he  first  settled  in  March,  18G5.  He 
in  former  years  owned  quite  a  body  of 
which  he  has  reduced  to  145  acres  and 
brought  to  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  erecting  a 
brick  residence,  a  large  barn,  and  all  other  neces- 
sary and  convenient  out-buildings.  He  has  of  late 
years  given  much  attention  to  stock-raising,  and 
one  of  the  finest  features  of  the  place  is  a  hand- 
some herd,  including  thirty  head  of  thoroughbred 


land, 


Hereford  cattle.  The  homestead  is  notable  for 
the  air  of  plenty  which  surrounds  it,  and  the  indi- 
cations of  good  taste  and  enterprise  displayed  on 
every  hand. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Bracken  County,  Ky., 
where  his  birth  took  place  on  the  farm  of  his  father, 
Sept.  20,  1827.  His  parents,  Richeson  and  Martha 
(Dunn)  Feagan,  were  natives  respectively  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Pennsylvania,  tlie  former  born  in  1801. 
His  ancestors  had  been  residents  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion for  several  generations.  When  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  became  the  main  support  and  stay 
of  his  widowed  mother,  the  family  having  been  de- 
prived by  death  of  a  father's  care  and  protection. 
Our  subject  remained  on  the  homestead  with  his 
mother,  and  after  reaching  manhood  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Dunn,  who  had  re- 
moved from  Pennsylvania  to  Kentucky  with  her 
parents  when  a  young  girl. 

Mr.  Feagan  was  a  strong  anti-slavery  man,  and 
carried  on  his  plantation  with  the  assistance  of  hired 
help,  refusing  to  avail  himself  of  slave  labor.  His 
estate  included  250  acres  of  land,  and  both  parents 
remained  in  Kentucky  until  the  death  of  the 
mother,  which  took  place  in  1866.  Of  their  seven 
children  but  four  lived  to  mature  years,  viz.,  Will- 
iam T.,  now  a  resident  of  Coles  County ;  James  F., 
who  is  occupying  the  old  homestead  in  Kentucky ; 
Nancy  Jane,  the  wife  of  John  R.  Norris,  a  farmer 
of  Charleston  Township,  and  Andrew  of  our  sketch. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  Richeson  Feagan,  in 
1869,  came  to  Illinois,  and  made  his  home  with  his 
children  until  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1884. 
He  was  reasonably  successful  in  his  struggle  with 
the  world,  acquiring  a  fair  amount  of  property, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Andrew  Feagan  was  reared  to  farm  pursuits,  and 
received  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools. 
One  of  the  most  important  events  of  his  life  took 
place  on  the  10th  of  November,  1853,  namely,  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Hadassah  Best,  a  native  of  Pen- 
dleton  County,  Ky.,  born  May  20,  1825.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Best,  natives  of 
Kentucky,  who  departed  this  life  at  their  home  in 
that  State.  Mr.  Feagan  after  his  marriage  contin- 
ued farming,  and  became  the  owner  of  150  acres 


I 


4 


,  .   220 


COLES   COUNTY. 


of  land  in  Bracken  County,  Ky.,  which  he  occu- 
pied until  1865.  He  then  sold  out,  and  coming  to 
this  State  became  associated  in  partnership  with 
David  Teel,  and  the  two  purchased  290  acres  of 
land  on  section  6  in  Charleston  Township.  A  year 
later  William  T.  Feagan  came  to  Illinois  and  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  T.,  and  the  Feagan  Bros, 
operated  the  land  together  for  a  period  of  six  years. 
William  T.  then  sold  out  his  interest,  but  our  sub- 
ject continued  to  occupy  the  homestead  which  he 
had  labored  to  build  up  and  beautify. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Feagan  have  no  children  of  their 
own.  but  have  performed  the  faithful  and  affection- 
ate office  of  parents  to  an  adopted  son,  Charles  H. 
Both  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  with  which  Mr.  F.  became  connected  in 
1844,  when  a  youth  seventeen  years  of  age.  He 
has  been  a  liberal  and  cheerful  giver  to  the  cause 
of  the  Master,  and  it  was  largely  through  his  influ- 
ence and  assistance  that  New  Salem  Chapel  was 
erected  and  the  society  kept  up.  The  edifice  is  a 
fine  brick  structure,  and  an  ornament  to  that  part 
of  town.  Mr.  F.  has  officiated  as  Steward  and 
Trustee,  and  his  cool  head  and  clear  judgment  are 
often  called  into  requisition  by  his  brethren  in 
their  counsels  for  the  welfare  and  advancement  of 
the  church. 


R.  J.  C.  BROOKS,  dental  surgeon,  Charles- 
ton, is  a  native  of  this  State,  born  in  Ed- 
gar County,  Aug.  28,  1838.  His  parents, 
Thomas  M.  and  Sarah  B.  (Chenoweth) 
Brooks,  were  natives  respectively  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Ohio  and  came 
to  this  State  in  about  1818,  locating  in  Edgar 
County,  being  among  its  earliest  settlers.  Later 
they  removed  to  Iroquois  County  where  the  mother 
passed  away  in  1865.  Mr.  B.  survived  his  wife 
until  Aug.  28,  1881,  and  died  after  reaching  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy-six  years.  Of  the  thir- 
teen children  which  gathered  around  the  family 
hearth,  the  subject  of  this  sketcli  was  the  seventh 
in  order  of  birth.  Of  these  but  five  are  now  living. 
Thomas  M.  Brooks  was  a  very  prominent  man  in 
Edgar  County,  being  most  of  the  time  an  incum- 


bent  of  some  office.  He  was  well  educated  and 
taught  school  for  a  number  of  years.  During  the 
existence  of  the  old  Whig  party  he  was  one  of  its 
stanch  supporters  and  later,  a  Free-Soil  Abolitionist. 
Upon  the  abandonment  of  the  old  party  he  cordially 
endorsed  Republican  principles  and  was  one  of  the 
first  in  Edgar  County  to  cast  his  vote  for  its  con- 
templated measures  and  its  candidates.  He  was 
also  interested  in  the  establishment  of  educational 
and  religious  institutions,  assisted  in  organizing  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Edgar  County,  and  officiated 
as  Elder  in  the  same  for  a  number  of  years. 

Dr.  Brooks  during  his  early  years  attended  school 
in  the  winter  season  and  later  took  a  full  course  in 
the  academy  at  Paris,  being  there  about  the  time 
of  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war.  In  the  fall  of 
1861  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  66th  Illinois  Western 
Sharpshooters,  and  served  as  a  soldier  for  three  years 
and  four  months,  holding  all  the  positions  from 
Private  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and  participating 
with  his  regiment  in  manj'  of  the  important  battles 
of  the  war.  He  escaped  comparatively  unharmed, 
receiving  only  a  slight  wound  in  a  skirmish  with 
the  enemy  while  in  Georgia.  He  was  at  the  siege 
and  capture  of  Ft.  Donelson,  Shiloh  and  Corinth, 
and  went  through  the  Atlanta  campaign,  sharing 
bravely  and  uncomplainingly  the  vicissitudes  of  a 
soldier's  life,  and  receiving  his  honorable  discharge 
and  the  approval  of  his  superior  officers  at  the  close. 

Upon  returning  from  the  army  our  subject,  in 
company  with  E.  Blake,  established  a  book-store  at 
Mattoon  but  subsequently  withdrew,  and  returning 
to  his  father's  farm  in  Edgar  County,  engaged  in 
the  nursery  business  until  the  following  year.  Not 
quite  satisfied  with  the  results  of  this,  and  having 
a  taste  for  dentistry,  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr. 
W.  Bradley,  under  whom  he  studied  for  a  year,  and 
then  placed  himself  under  the  instruction  of  Dr. 
Richardson,  of  Mattoon,  where  he  perfected  him- 
self in  his  chosen  profession.  He  commenced  prac- 
tice in  Charleston  in  the  spring  of  1867,  opening  a 
neat  office  and  securing  ere  long  the  patronage  of 
the  best  people  of  that  city  and  vicinity.  Circum- 
stances, however,  induced  him  to  change  his  loca- 
tion, and  in  1871  he  moved  to  Sullivan,  Moultrie 
County,  where  he  practiced  successfully  nine  years. 
Thence  he  returned  to  Mattoon  and  two  years  later 


I- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


221 


to  Charleston,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  resident. 
The  home  of  himself  and  family  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated on  West  Washington  street,  and  besides  this 
he  has  other  good  property  in  the  city. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Brooks  and  Miss  Lottie, 
daughter  of  Simeon  Blake,  formerly  of  Charleston, 
took  place  Oct.  17,  1804.  Of  this  union  there  are 
three  children,  Frank  A.,  born  in  1865;  Essie  F.,  in 
1868,  and  Clare  W.,  in  1880.  Both  the  Doctor  and 
Mrs.  B.  are  prominently  connected  with  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Loan 
and  Building  Association,  and  politically  is  a  Prohi- 
bitionist of  the  first  water,  giving  to  the  subject  of 
temperance  much  of  his  time  and  attention,  and  as- 
sisting in  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  K.  of  P.,  G.  A.  R. 
and  R.  T.  of  T. 


R.  W.  S.  DUNCAN,  a  well-known  resident 
JlJ  of  Hutton  Township,  spent  his  childhood 
and  youth  in  Greene  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  was  born  Feb.  26,  1825.  He  comes  of 
worthy  ancestry,  his  grandfather  having  been  Isaiah 
Duncan,  an  enterprising  Southern  farmer,  who  was 
born,  reared  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  South  Car- 
olina. He  married  and  became  the  father  of  a 
family,  including  five  sons  and  two  daughters. 
The  sons  were  Isaiah,  George,  John,  Eli  and  Joshua. 
Of  these,  the  father  of  our  subject  was  next  to  the 
youngest.  He  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm  until 
reaching  manhood.  He  then  migrated  North,  and 
locating  in  Greene  County,  Ind.,  was  married  to 
Miss  Rebecca  Stevens  in  the  spring  of  1 822.  Mrs. 
Duncan  was  born  Feb.  28,  1801,  in  Kentucky,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  William  Stevens,  who  emi- 
grated from  the  Blue  Grass  regions  to  Harrison 
County,  Ind. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Duncan  rented  a  tract  of 
land  and  carried  on  farming  until  the  spring  of 
1835.  He  then  came  to  Edgar  County,  this  State, 
and  secured  possession  of  forty  acres  of  timber 
land,  a  part  of  which  he  cleared  and  occupied  until 
the  spring  of  1853.  He  then  removed  with  his 
family  to  Laclcde  County,  Mo.,  and  died  there  in 


1856,  leaving  a  family  of  seven  children.  While  a 
resident  of  Indiana  he  and  his  wife  had  become 
members  of  the  Dunkard  Church,  but  after  coming 
to  Illinois  united  with  the  Christian  Church.  The 
mother  survived  her  husband  about  twenty-three 
years,  making  her  home  with  her  children,  and 
died  Dec.  10,  1881.  The  parental  family  included 
the  following  children  :  Isaiah,  who  died  in  infancy  ; 
W.  S.,  of  our  sketch;  John,  who  died  in  infancy; 
George,  now  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church  at 
Arkansas;  Joshua;  Marion,  who  died  when  twenty 
years  of  age;  Obadiah,  a  resident  of  Piatt  County, 
111.;  Jane;  Elizabeth,  a  widow,  now  residing  in 
Marion  County,  and  Polly  A.,  who  has  carried  on 
a  millinery  establishment  in  Bement,  III.,  for  the 
last  twenty  years. 

Dr.  Duncan  was  the  second  child  of  his  parents, 
and  received  but  a  common-school  education. 
When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  commenced  work- 
ing in  a  tanyard,  where  he  continued  three  j'ears, 
and  then  enlisting  in  Co.  H,  4th  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
started  on  the  16th  of  June,  1846,  by  wagon  to 
Springfield,  111.,  bound  for  Mexico.  After  reach- 
ing the  seat  of  war  he  found  that  the  precarious 
state  of  his  health  would  prevent  him  from  con- 
tinuing in  the  ranks,  and  in  December  received  his 
discharge  on  account  of  disability,  the  result  of 
measels  contracted  at  Matamoras,  Mex.  Upon  re- 
turning to  Edgar  County  he  began  teaching  school, 
which  he  followed  during  the  winter  season  and 
worked  on  the  farm  in  summer,  in  the  meantime 
employing  his  leisure  moments  in  the  study  of 
medicine.  He  finally  placed  himself  under  the  in- 
struction of  Dr.  Harris  Meeker,  of  Edgar  County, 
and  in  about  1853  began  practicing  in  Coles 
County. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Duncan  and  Miss  Charlotte 
W.  Elsbury,  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the 
bride,  Dec.  3,  1847.  Mrs.  Duncan  was  born  March 
13,  1826,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Char- 
lotte (Winters)  Elsbury,  natives  of  Indiana.  Dr. 
Duncan  continued  teaching  for  about  three  years 
after  his  marriage,  and  then  abandoning  this,  lo- 
cated at  Slringtown.  where  he  followed  his  profes- 
sion until  1860.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  took 
up  his  residence  at  Sidney,  Champaign  County. 
In  January,  1864,  during  the  progress  of  the  Civil 


4s 

,  ,  222 


COLES   COUNTY. 


War,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  10th  111.  Vol.  Cav.,  and 
was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon,  receiving  his  com- 
mission from  Gov.  Yates  on  the  18th  of  March. 
He  held  this  appointment  until  October  13  follow- 
ing, when  he  resigned,  and  returning  to  Sidney 
continued  his  practice  until  1868.  His  health, 
however,  which  had  become  seriously  impaired 
during  his  experience  in  the  army,  compelled  him 
to  leave  the  prairie  country,  and  he  accordingly 
moved  to  Farmersburg,  Ind.,  where  there  was 
more  timber  and  clay.  He  remained  there  until 
August,  1884,  then  returned  to  Sidney,  and  thence 
removed  to  Hutton  Township,  in  October,  1886, 
where  he  has  since  followed  his  practice  success- 
fully, and  receives  ample  patronage  from  the  best 
people  of  the  community. 

Mrs.  Charlotte  Duncan  departed  this  life  at 
Farmersburg,"  Ind.,  in  October,  1874.  .She  was  a 
lady  of  many  estimable  qualities,  and  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Of  her  mar- 
riage with  our  subject  there  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, recorded  as  follows:  Minerva  P.,  born  Oct. 
3,  1848,  is  the  wife  of  John  W.  Payne,  of  Evans- 
ville,  Ind.;  Melissa  C.,  born  June  11,  1850,  is  the 
wife  of  Alfred  Duncan,  of  Fulton  County,  Mo. ; 
Mary  E.,  born  Sept.  12,  1852,  died  thirteen  da3rs 
later;  Minnie  C.,  born  May  10,  1854,  is  the  wife 
of  Joab  Patton,  of  Indiana;  Laura  B.,  born  Jan. 
14,  1857,  died  when  eighteen  months  old;  Jose- 
phine F.  P.,  born  May  15,  1860,  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  George  H.  Bogart,  of  Indiana;  Rebecca  D., 
born  July  12,  1863,  died  August  15  following; 
her  twin  brother,  William  M.,  died  August  5  fol- 
lowing. Nora,  born  July  10,  1865,  became  the 
wife  of  Lester  E.  Foulke,  and  is  a  resident  of 
Champaign  County. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was 
married  Jan.  5,  1875,  was  formerly  Miss  Elizabeth 
Johns,  a  native  of  Boone  County,  Ind.,  and  born 
June  29,  1846.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Hardin  W. 
and  Charlotte  T.  Johns,  natives  of  Kentucky.  Of 
this  union  there  were  two  children:  William  O., 
born  Sept.  25,  1875,  and  who  died  Sept.  15,  1878, 
and  Blach  G.,  born  April  16,  1883.  The  Doctor 
and  Mrs.  Duncan  are  members  of  the  Seventh- 
Day  Adventist  Church.  While  a  resident  of  Indi- 
ana, Dr.  Duncan  identified  himself  with  the  Sullivan 


County  Medical  Association,  and  socially,  belongs 
to  Fairbanks  Lodge  No.  373,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at 
Fairbanks,  Ind.,  Chapter  No.  11,  R.  A.  M.,  at 
Terre  Haute,  and  is  also  connected  with  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  He  votes  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
keeps  himself  well  posted  on  current  events. 


RS.  HANNAH  DUTRO,  widow  of  George 
W.  Dutro,  occupies  a  fine  homestead  on  sec- 
tion 29,  in  Ashmore  Township,  which  was 
built  up  by  the  industry  and  thrift  of  her 
late  lamented  husband.  Mr.  Dutro  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  April  24,  1836,  and  was  the  son  of 
Reuben  and  Maria  (Neff)  Dutro,  natives  of  Mary- 
land, and  of  German  descent.  Mr.  Dutro  spent 
his  childhood  and  youth  in  his  native  State  under 
the  careful  training  of  his  excellent  parents,  and 
became  fully  acquainted  with  the  employments  of 
farm  life.  After  reaching  manhood  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Hannah  Moore,  April  15, 
1858.  They  came  to  Illinois,  and  Mr.  D.  pur- 
chased 280  acres  of  land  in  Ashmore  Township. 
He  afterward  sold  a  quarter  section  of  this  so  that 
the  home  farm  comprises  now  but  120  acres. 

Mr.  Dutro  proceeded  with  his  farming  operations 
in  an  intelligent  and  skillful  manner,  and  by  his 
upright  and  worthy  life  established  himself  in  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  a  Class-Leader  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  many  years,  and  by  his  consistent 
Christian  character  adorned  his  profession,  and  was 
greatly  beloved  by  the  brethren.  The  death  of 
Mr.  Dutro,  which  occurred  under  very  painful 
circumstances,  took  place  on  the  31st  of  October, 
1884.  The  remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery 
at  Ashmore,  and  followed  to  their  last  resting- 
place  by  most  of  the  people  of  that  section,  and 
who  had  held  the  deceased  in  universal  respect. 
Mr.  D.  was  an  intelligent  man,  Republican  in  politics, 
and  one  who  always  took  an  interest  in  the  welfare 
and  prosperity  of  his  fellow-men. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Dutro  was  born  in  Butler  County. 
Ohio,  April  10,  1838,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Lev! 
and  Abigail  (Fleuner)  Moore,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  died  in  their  native  State  some  years 


1 


* 


r 


COLES   COUNTY. 


223 


ago.  The  mother  survived  her  husband  about 
twenty  years.  The  parental  household  included 
twelve  children,  who  were  carefully  reared  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
which  both  parents  were  consistent  members  for 
many  years,  and  of  which  Mrs.  Dutro  has  been  a 
member  since  early  youth.  The  offspring  of 
George  W.  and  Hannah  Dutro  were  as  follows: 
Frank,  the  eldest,  was  born  Jan.  23,  1859;  Laura, 
Oct.  23,  1800;  Emma,  Dec.  24,  1864;  Leonard, 
Dec.  24,  1869;  Earnest,  Sept.  26,  1873,  and  Hattie, 
June  1,  1875.  All  are  at  home,  and  members  of 
the  same  church  as  their  mother. 


\f]EROME  A.  BROWN  is  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Ash  more  Township,  residing  on 
section  5.  He  was  born  Dec.  21,  1838,  in 
Edgar  County,  111.,  and  is  the  son  of  Job 
W.  and  Martha  E.  (Archer)  Brown.  Job  Brown 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  during  the  early 
part  of  his  life  was  engaged  in  farming.  His  edu- 
cational advantages  had  been  very  limited,  but  he 
possessed  an  active  mind  and  good  native  business 
capacity,  which  always  secured  him  success  in  finan- 
cial affairs.  He  commenced  in  the  world  with  noth- 
ing, and  at  his  death  was  worth  over  $20,000.  His 
family  was  of  English  extraction,  and  he  possessed 
that  invaluable  heritage,  a  fine  physique,  being 
five  feet  and  nine  inches  in  height  and  weighing 
195  pounds.  He  was  a  man  of  progressive  spirit, 
enterprising  character,  and  a  liberal  supporter  of 
every  measure  calculated  to  benefit  his  fellow-citi- 
zens. In  his  daily  life  he  always  evinced  the  char- 
acter of  a  true  Christian.  For  many  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but 
aferward  united  with  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
in  which  he  was  an  earnest  worker,  affording  it  sub- 
stantial aid  in  many  financial  difficulties. 

Job  Brown  came  to  Illinois  in  1824  and  located 
in  Walnut  Grove,  Edgar  County,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1840,  and  then  removed  to  this  coun- 
ty, where  the  closing  years  of  his  life  were  passed. 
His  wife  was  born  March  4,  1808,  in  Maryland,  and 
thence  moved  to  Monroe  County,  Ind.,  witli  her 
parents,  where  her  father  remained  until  his  death. 


Their  marriage  took  place  in  January,  183  '..  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
but  with  her  husband  joined  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  was  sincere  and  earnest  in  her  Chris- 
tian life.  The  following  is  a  record  of  their  chil- 
dren :  Warren  E.  married  Miss  Hettie  A.  Bradfield ; 
Mary  E.  married  Nelson  Green ;  Eliza  J.  married 
W.  P.  Green;  George  A.  married  Miss  Ardin 
O'Brien;  Jerome  A.;  Lucy  A.  married  Adon  Wy- 
ley, and  is  now  deceased ;  Sarah  R.  married  James 
Wyley;  Caroline  A.  married  A.  J.  Waters;  Mahala 
H.  married  Richard  Waters,  and  Susan  M.  married 
T.  Sublett. 

Jerome  Brown  was  united  in  marriage,  Nov.  1, 
1860,  to  Miss  Margaretta  Potteng-er.  She  was  born 
•Feb.  27,  1838,  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Dennis  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Fort)  Pot- 
tenger.  Her  father  was  born  Nov.  15,  1805,  in 
Ohio,  and  his  death  occurred  Sept.  20,  1845,  in  his 
native  State,  where  he  had  passed  his  entire  life  en- 
gaged in  farming.  His  wife  was  born  Sept.  20, 
1808,  in  New  Jersey  and  died  Aug.  11,  1859,  on 
the  homestead  in  Ohio,  where  her  married  life  be- 
gan. She  was  a  member  of  the  New-Light  Church, 
and  was  much  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her.  Six 
children  were  born  to  them,  whose  names  are  as 
follows:  Mary  F.,  Hiram,  Margaretta,  Grand ville, 
Hester  F.  and  Cecelia. 

Mr.  Brown  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate,  contain- 
ing 295  acres  of  valuable  land,  all  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  His  residence  is  commodious 
and  tasteful,  and  his  farm  buildings  are  excellent 
in  all  their  appointments.  He  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising  in  1860,  and  is  especially  success- 
ful in  breeding  high  grades  of  cattle  and  horses. 
In  1864  he  joined  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  has 
filled  various  offices  in  his  lodge.  He  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  but  ne\'er  qualified  for  the  of- 
fice. His  entire  family  are  devoted  to  the  service 
of  Christ,  and  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  for 
many  years  an  Elder. 

An  elder  brother  of  Mr.  Brown  died  recently  in 
Nodaway  County,  Mo.,  where  he  had  been  for  many 
years  a  successful  physician.  He  was  an  active, 
energetic  man  and  had  gained  a  wide  reputation 
for  skill  in  his  profession.  He  was  a  liberal-minded, 


I 


224 


COLES    COUNTY. 


earnest,  consistent  Christian,  and  beloved  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends.  He  had  no  children,  and  at 
the  death  of  his  widow  his  property,  consisting  of 
$30,000,  is  willed  to  the  church. 


J~~  ESS-E   HUDSON,  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate 
of  valuable,  well-improved  land,  resides  on 
section  7,  Morgan  Township,  where  he  car- 
ries on  an  extensive  business  in  farming  and 
stock-growing.     He    was  born   June   27,   1840,  in 
Jessamine  County,  Ky.,  and  is  the  son  of  Leander 
M.  and  Sophia  (Racier)  Hudson.     Leander  Hudson 
was  born  Sept.  5,   1 809,  in   Carter  County,  Tenn., 
and  remained  at  home  until   twenty-four  years  of 
age.  when  his  marriage  to  Miss  Sophia  Rader  took 
place,  Oct.  23,  1833.     Mrs.  Hudson  was  born   July 
22,  1808,  in  Virginia.      Her  family  originally  came 
from  Germany  and  settled  in  Virginia  at  an  early 
day. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hudson  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren :  Lemuel,  a  resident  of  Douglas  County,  has 
been  twice  married,  and  is  the  father  of  two  chil- 
dren, a|  son  and  daughter;  Minerva,  the  wife  of 
J.  W.  Powers,  a  resident  of  Douglas  County,  has 
three  children,  one  daughter  and  two  sons;  Jesse  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John,  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas, was  married  and  his  wife  died,  leaving  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children;  Mary  J.,  the  wife  of  F.  M. 
Stark,  a  resident  of  Iowa,  has  six  children.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife,  which  occurred  Feb.  13,  1866, 
Mr.  Hudson  was  married,  September  15  of  the  same 
year,  to  Miss  Delilah  J.  Rutherford.  Mrs.  Hudson 
was  born  Dec.  6,  1836,  in  Dubois  County,  Ind. 
In  1851  Mr.  Hudson  came  to  Coles  County,  111., 
and  purchased  200  acres  of  land  in  East  Oakland 
Township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  on  the  homestead, 
Dec.  19,  1879,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  lie 
was  a  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  the  township,  and 
with  his  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

Jesse  Hudson  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county  in  the  autumn  of  1851,  when  eleven  years 
of  age.  He  attended  school  until  he  was  eighteen, 
and  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty,  assist- 


ing  his  father  in  the  farm  labor,  receiving  one-third 
of  the  crops  in  return  for  his  services.  In  1864  he 
engaged  in  business  for  himself  on  rented  land,  and 
in  1868  purchased  eighty  acres  of  the  estate  he 
now  owns.  In  1877  he  erected  his  frame  residence 
and  a  large,  well-appointed  barn.  In  the  interven- 
ing time  from  1872  to  1882,  he  purchased  on  differ- 
ent occasions  forty,  sixty  and  twenty  acres  of  land, 
increasing  his  estate  to  200  acres.  There  is  a  fine 
grove  of  walnut-trees  growing  on  his  place,  which 
was  planted  thirty  years  ago,  some  of  the  trees 
being  from  twelve  to  sixteen  inches  in  diameter, 
and  there  is  likewise  a  grove  of  maples  on  the 
farm,  nearly  as  large  in  growth  as  the  former. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  1861,  Mr.  Hudson  was 
married  to  Miss  Harriet  Stark.  Mrs.  Hudson  was 
born  Nov.  15,  1842,  in  Vigo,  Ind.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Simeon  and  Lucetta  (Heron)  Stark. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stark's  family  consisted  of  fourteen 
children,  whose  record  is  as  follows:  Eliza  J.,  the 
wife  of  James  Craig;  Harriet,  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject; Francis  M.  is  married,  and  has  a  family  of  six 
children;  Bell,  the  wife  of  Nelson  Branch,  has  a 
family  of  six  children;  James  A.  is  married,  and 
has  a  family  of  six  children;  Ann  is  the  wife  of 
Bruce  Lee.  a  resident  of  Douglas  County,  and  has 
a  family  of  seven  children;  William  H.  is  a  drug- 
gist in  Edgar  County,  and  has  a  family  of  five 
children ;  Melinda  married  T.  D.  Davis,  and  has 
four  children ;  Rosa  L.  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Stark, 
and  has  one  daughter;  Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Davis,  has  two  children ;  Effie,  the  wife  of  Stanley 
Burget,  a  resident  of  Douglas  County,  has  one 
child ;  Lillian ;  Eugenia  and  Simeon.  Mrs.  Stark 
died  in  1867,  and  Mr.  Stark  subsequently  married 
Miss  Mary  Devars.  By  his  second  marriage  three 
children  were  born.  In  1887  Mr.  Stark  sold  out 
his  property  and  moved  to  Pulaski  Count}',  Mo. 

Mr.  Hudson's  residence  is  surrounded  by  a  pleas- 
ant lawn,  shaded  in  front  by  a  large  ash,  which  is 
probably  over  sixty  years  old.  A  view  of  the 
place  is  shown  in  connection  with  this  sketch.  His 
land  is  high  and  rolling,  and  the  soil  is  very  pro- 
ductive. He  is  engaged  in  stock-raising,  and  owns 
about  sixty-five  head  of  Short-horn  cattle;  lie  de- 
votes most  of  his  farm  to  the  cultivation  of  corn 
and  grass,  to  furnish  feed  for  his  cattle  and  hogs. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

OF  ILLINOIS 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


227 


t 


Mr.  Hudson  is  an  active,  enterprising  citizen  of  the 
township,  and  holds  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  having  been  elected  to  that  position  for  four 
successive  terms.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 


[AMES  W.  WOODSON  is  one  of  the  self- 
made  men  of  Coles  County  who  commenced 
life  without  means,  and  by  his  own  industry 
and  perseverance  has  attained  to  a  good  po- 
sition among  his  fellow-men,  and  become  the  owner 
of  a  valuable  property.  His  fine  farm  of  370  acres, 
a  view  of  which  appears  on  an  adjoining  page,  is 
located  on  section  27,  in  Charleston  Township,  and 
is  supplied  with  a  commodious  dwelling,  a  large 
barn,  and  all  the  other  out-buildings  required  by 
the  progressive  modern  farmer.  He  has  of  late 
years  turned  his  attention  largely  to  stock-raising 
and  wheat,  and  from  these  realizes  a  handsome  in- 
come. 

Mr.  Woodson  commenced  life  with  a  cash  capi- 
tal of  $2.50,  and  possessed  but  $250  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage.  In  looking  upon  his  broad  acres  and 
the  buildings  and  machinery  of  the  farm,  with  all 
the  evidences  of  ample  means  and  the  comforts  and 
luxuries  of  life,  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that 
our  subject  presents  a  fine  example  of  what  may 
be  accomplished  by  sensible  economy  and  a  judi- 
cious disbursement  of  funds.  He  has  always  made 
it  a  point  to  live  within  his  income,  and  the  result 
has  been  what  we  have  already  described. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  the  Hawkeye  State, 
born  in  Lima  County,  Sept.  22,  1851.  His  father. 
Jemison  Woodson,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  whence 
he  emigrated  when  a  young  man  to  this  State,  and 
afterward  crossed  the  Mississippi  into  Iowa,  where 
he  married  Miss  Cintha  Davis.  She  was  born  in 
Indiana  about  1833,  and  removed  with  her  parents 
to  Mower  County,  Minn.,  where  they  still  reside, 
Jemison  and  Cintha  Woodson  became  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  of  whom  James  W.  was  the  eldest. 
He  remained  under  the  home  roof  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  then  started  out  for  himself. 
Coming  to  this  county  he  began  as  a  farm  laborer 
at  $16  per  month,  and  afterward  rented  a  tract  of 


land  in  Charleston  Township,  which  he  occupied 
until  1871. 

In  the  spring  of  the  latter-named  year  our  sub- 
ject was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret, 
daughter  of  John  and  Lucy  Hall,  who  was  born  in 
Charleston  Township,  this  county,  in  1852.  Mr. 
Hall  for  a  consideration  of  $2,000  deeded  to  his 
son-in-law  160  acres  of  land  which  he  had  entered 
from  the  Government  fifty-four  years  ago.  The 
young  people  "pulled  together,"  labored  industri- 
ously, lived  economically,  and  in  due  time  the  farm 
was  paid  for,  and  they  had  a  home  which  they 
proudly  called  their  own.  Mr.  Woodson  thereafter 
invested  his  surplus  capital  in  more  land,  which  he 
brought  to  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  upon 
which  he  erected  the  present  commodious  farm 
house  for  $1,200.  He  has  been  remarkably  suc- 
cessful in  his  farming  operations,  and  ranks  among 
the  representative  agriculturists  of  Central  Illi- 
nois. 

The  five  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood- 
son  were  named  respectively,  Mary,  Ida,  Florence, 
Elsie  and  Alvah.  Mr.  Woodson  has  been  promi- 
nent in  local  affairs,  serving  as  School  Director  nine 
years,  and  also  officiating  as  Township  Trustee. 
He  is  a  man  of  upright  principles  and  excellent 
judgment,  and  is  held  in  universal  respect.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party. 

•"  *  Va  1&* 

yiLLIAM  BURGESS,  Supervisor  of  Mattoon 
Township,  and  a  resident  of  Mattoon,  has 
been  engaged  there  in  the  boot  fMid  shoe 
business  since  the  spring  of  1 860,  when  he  estab- 
lished a  factory  and  gave  employment  to  eight  men. 
He  has  of  late  years  almost  abandoned  the  manu- 
facture of  this  article  of  wearing  apparel,  and  turned 
his  attention  to  the  sale  of  ready-made  work,  in 
which  he  has  built  up  a  good  patronage,  and  real- 
izes an  income  which  provides  comfortably  for  him- 
self and  family.  Mr.  Burgess,  in  common  with  a 
large  proportion  of  the  successful  business  men  of 
this  county,  spent  his  early  years  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic.  He  was  born  in  North  Moulton, 
Devonshire,  England,  Oct.  12,  1827,  and  is  the  son 


t. 


228 


COLES   COUNTY. 


of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Parkins)  Burgess,  natives 
of  the  same  country,  where  the  father  followed  the 
business  of  a  builder  and  contractor  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  Both  parents  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  their  native  country,  the  mother  dying  in 
1881,  and  the  father  in  1884. 

Henry  Burgess  was  a  man  of  tonsiderable  promi- 
nence in  his  native  county,  and  carried  on  a  large 
business,  giving  employment  to  from  eight  to 
twelve  men,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  Old  Union  of 
North  Moulton.  Both  parents  belonged  to  the 
Church  of  England.  Of  the  eleven  children  of  the 
parental  family,  eight  grew  to  mature  years  and 
seven  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann,  Mrs.  Kerslake; 
Henry,  William,  Francis,  John.  Michael,  and  Eliza- 
beth, Mrs.  Frayne. 

Our  subject  spent  his  younger  years  mostly  in 
school,  and  when  ten  years  of  age  commenced  to 
drive  a  team  on  a  farm,  and  afterward  engaged  in 
hauling  goods  for  a  store  which  was  kept  by  his 
mother.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  was  appen- 
ticed  to  learn  the  boot  and  shoe  trade,  at  which  he 
served  six  years.  Ilis  employer  then  gave  him  his 
time,  and  going  to  South  Moulton  he  hired  out  for 
one  year,  receiving  one  shilling  per  week  and  his 
board.  During  the  six  years  of  his  apprenticeship 
he  had  only  received  his  board,  and  his  parents  fur- 
nished his  clothes.  In  1849  he  started  to  do  for  him- 
self, and  determined  to  try  his  fortunes  on  another 
continent.  Bidding  adieu  to  his  friends,  on  the  3d 
of  May,  1849,  he  embarked  on  a  sailing-vessel  from 
Liverpool,  and  after  a  voyage  of  four  weeks  found 
himself  in  New  York  City.  From  there  he  proceeded 
to  Syracuse,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  a  year, 
and  the.u,  in  company  with  others,  engaged  in  the 
co-operative  boot  and  shoe  business.  After  the  first 
year,  the  two  foremen  stole  the  proceeds,  and  the 
concern  was  forced  to  suspend  operations. 

Qur  subject  then  went  to  Courtland  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  worked  as  a  journeyman  shoemaker  five 
weeks,  and  after  being  employed  at  various  other 
places  in  the  Empire  State,  in  1855  decided  to  re- 
cross  the  water  and  visit  the  home  of  his  childhood. 
After  a  stay  of  thirteen  months,  he  returned, 
greatly  refreshed  in  body  and  spirits,  and  took  up 
his  residence  in  Wellsburg,  Pa.  After  seven  weeks 
he  proceeded  to  Corning,  N.  Y.,  thence  to  Dundas, 


Canada,  and  from  the  Dominion  to  the  State  of 
Michigan,  and  thence  to  Indiana,  finally  arriving 
in  Decatur,  111.,  in  1857,  and  was  variously  em- 
ployed until  May,  1860,  when  he  made  his  first 
permanent  entrance  into  this  county. 

Mr.  Burgess  after  getting  a  good  foothold  in  busi- 
ness, and  feeling  justified  in  establishing  Domestic 
ties,  was  united  in  marriage,  Nov.  26,  1862,  to 
Miss  Agnes  Evans,  of  Mattoon.  Mrs.  B.  was  born 
in  London,  England,  and  is  the  daughter  of  S.  R. 
and  Mary  Ann  (Scully)  Evans,  also  natives  of  En- 
gland. Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there  are  two 
children  living,  Mary  E.  and  Emma  F.  The  fam- 
ily residence  is  a  tasteful  structure,  pleasantly  lo- 
cated, and  is  the  resort  of  many  friends  of  our  »ub- 
ject  and  his  estimable  wife. 

Mr.  Burgess,  after  becoming  a  naturalized  citi- 
zen, identified  himself  the  Republican  party,  and 
has  been  prominent  in  local  affairs  since  coming  to 
Mattoon  Township.  In  1875  he  was  chosen  Alder- 
man of  the  Second  Ward,  and  in  1883,  having  re- 
moved, was  elected  Alderman  of  the  Fourth  Ward, 
and  is  now  serving  his  third  term  in  that  position, 
having  been  for  four  years  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Streets,  Alleys  and  Drainage.  He  was 
elected  Township  Supervisor  in  1887,  and  in  the 
discharge  of  his  public  duties  has  acquitted  himself 
with  credit,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  fellow- 
townsmen.  He  is  a  stockholder  and  one  of  the  Di- 
rectors of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Mattoon.  His 
wife  and  daughter  are  members  and  regular  attend- 
ants of  the  Congregational  Church. 

_^'_'.l/       «.'.•  -^  >•—'-••  . 


AMUEL  J.  JACKSON,  Postmaster,  mer- 
chant, and  manufacturer  of  tile  and  brick 
at  Fuller's  Point,  in  North  Okaw  Township, 
is  operating  not  far  from  the  scene  of  his 
birthplace,  he  having  been  born  in  this  township 
March  7,  1859.  The  family  history  of  our  subject 
is  in  its  main  points  as  follows:  Bernard  Jackson, 
his  grandfather,  was  born  near  Alexandria,  Va., 
in  1770,  and  carried  on  the  trades  of  a  cabinet- 
maker and  carpenter  in  connection  with  farming 
for  many  years.  Later  in  life  he  abandoned  active 
labor  at  his  trades  and  confined  his  attention  to  the 
quiet  pursuits  of  a  country  life.  He  was  married 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


229 


in  his  native  county,  and  a  few  years  later  removed 
to  Stanton,  now  Ripley,  Brown  County,  Ohio. 
There  the  wife  and  mother  died,  Oct.  3,  1814, 
aged  forty-one  years  and  fifteen  days.  This  was 
the  first  de'ath  which  occurred  in  the  town  of  Rip- 
ley,  and  the  funeral  sermon  was  preached  at  the 
grave  by  Rev.  John  Collins,  who  happened  to  be 
passing  through  the  neighborhood,  and  falling  in 
with  the  funeral  procession,  repaired  to  the  bury- 
ing-ground  and  kindly  proffered  his  services.  His 
text  was  taken  from  the  Gospel  of  St.  John. 
Up  to  this  time  her  husband  had  been  an  avowed 
infidel.  The  solemnity  of  the  occasion  had  great 
effect  upon  his  mind,  and  then  and  there  renouncing 
his  skepticism,  he  became  an  earnest  inquirer  after 
the  way  of  salvation.  In  after  years  the  Rev. 
Collins  formed  his  acquaintance  and  often  heard 
him  relate  how  he  was  brought  out  of  darkness 
into  light.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  remained  an  active  member  until  his 
death.  His  remains  were  laid  to  rest  at  Stone 
Chapel,  in  West  Union  Circuit,  Adams  Co.,  Ohio. 
He  has  two  sons  who  are  engaged  in  the  ministry, 
namely,  Rev.  William  H.,  of  Indiana,  and  Rev. 
Andrew  B.,  located  in  Southeastern  Kansas.  Both 
are  members  of  the  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

The  family  of  the  grandparents  included  ten 
children,  there  being  besides  those  above  men- 
tioned, William,  deceased;  Samuel,  deceased; 
James,  a  resident  of  Louisiana;  Polly,  deceased; 
George,  Juliet,  Harriet  and  John,  the  latter  resi- 
dents of  Williamstown.  Ky.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  Bernard  Jackson  was  married,  in  1815, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Whistner,  who  was  born  in  Mary- 
land in  1793.  Her  parents  afterward  removed  to 
Kentucky.  Fifteen  years  later  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jackson  took  up  their  abode  on  a  farm  in  Ripley 
County,  Ohio,  where  the  grandfather  spent  his  last 
years.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  subsequently  came  to 
this  county,  and  made  her  home  with  her  son, 
Madison  B.,  until  her  death.  Of  this  marriage 
there  were  born  ten  children:  William,  a  resident 
of  Indiana;  Jerome  M.  died  at  Memphis,  Tenn. ; 
Maria,  Andrew  B.,  Wesley,  Newton  J.,  Malinda 
(deceased),  Susan  J.,  Milton  M.,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  and  Madison  1>. 


Milton  M.  Jackson  was  born  in  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  Jan.  31,  1833.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education  and  remained  on  the  homestead  a 
few  years  after  his  father's  death.  He  and  his 
brother,  Madison,  worked  together  and  supported 
their  mother,  and  in  the  fall  of  1855  Milton  re- 
solved to  seek  his  fortunes  in  the  Prairie  State.  He 
located  in  North  Okaw  Township,  this  count}',  and 
that  same  winter  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Emeline  Fuller,  a  native  of  this  county  and  born 
Nov.  28,  1838.  Her  parents,  Henry  and  Mary 
Fuller,  were  -natives  of  Virginia.  After  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Jackson  purchased  a  tract  of  land  ad- 
joining the  homestead  of  his  father-in-law,  and  in 
connection  with  the  latter  carried  on  farming  until 
the  fall  of  1861.  The  young  men  of  the  country 
were  then  called  upon  to  prove  their  loyalty  to  the 
Union,  and  in  common  with  many  of  his  acquaint- 
ances he  volunteered  his  services,  by  enlisting  in 
the  123d  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  nearly  three 
years.  In  the  meantime  he  was  promoted  Corporal 
and  then  on  account  of  failing  health  was  obliged 
to  accept  his  discharge.  He  returned  home  and 
died  a  few  days  later. 

The  four  children  of  the  parental  family  are  re- 
corded as  follows:  Henry,  born  April  19,  1857, 
died  eleven  days  later;  Samuel  J.,  of  our  sketch, 
was  the  second  child ;  William  W.  was  born  July 
26,  1861,  and  was  cut  down  while  still  young,  his 
(tenth  taking  place  Feb.  7.  1887.  His  education 
was  completed  in  the  common  school,  and  when 
old  enough  he  assisted  his  widowed  mother  on  the 
farm.  Subsequently  he  purchased  land  for  him- 
self adjoining  that  of  the  parental  homestead,  but 
always  made  his  home  with  his  mother.  He  was 
a  young  man  upon  whom  were  centered  great  hopes, 
and  was  universally  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  served  as  Assessor  five  terms  and 
possessed  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  good 
judgment  in  connection  with  his  farm  labors,  and 
in  deliberating  upon  matters  connected  with  the 
welfare  of  the  township.  He  suffered  greatly  with 
typhoid  fever  for  three  weeks  before  his  death. 
Milton  M.  was  born  April  19,  1863,  and  died  when 
about  four  years  of  age.  Milton  M.  Jackson  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  the  former,  politically,  cast  his  in 


230 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Huence  with  the  Democratic  party.  His  widow 
subsequently  married  William  Gilmore,  and  is  now 
living  in  Nurth  Okavv  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about  seven  years 
of  age  when  his  father  died.  His  education  was 
begun  and  completed  in  the  common  schools,  and 
he  remained  with  his  widowed  mother  until  her 
marriage.  When  he  was  eighteen  years  old  his 
mother  had  given  him  forty  acres  of  improved 
land,  and  to  this  he  subsequently  added,  and  has 
since  been  industriously  engaged  in  its  improve- 
ment and  cultivation.  This,  in  connection  with 
his  operations  in  brick  and  tile  occupies  his  time 
fully.  In  the  spring  of  1887  he  opened  a  store 
near  the  factory,  where  he  keeps  a  full  line  of 
general  merchandise  and  also  attends  to  the  duties 
of  his  position  as  Postmaster. 

The  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried June  14,  1881,  was  formerly  Miss  Cynthia  A. 
Kllison,  a  native  of  this  county  and  the  daughter 
of  Moses  and  Mary  A.  (Lockridge)  Ellison.  She 
was  born  June  20,  1852,  and  remained  with  her 
parents  until  her  marriage  and  afterward,  for  Mr. 
Jackson  took  up  his  abode  with  his  father-in-law, 
and  has  since  been  a  member  of  the  family.  His 
wife  was  the  youngest  daughter,  and  is  the  only  one 
of  their  children  at  home.  In  the  fall  of  1886 
Mr.  Jackson  became  the  partner  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  Madison  Hunt,  and  they  established  their 
present,  factory,  which  they  have  since  operated 
successfully  under  the  firm  name  of  Jackson  <fe 
Hunt.  The  only  child  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J. 
died  in  infancy. 


|  OSEPH  E.  BOYD,  Supervisor  of  Lafayette 
Township,  is  the  owner  of  a  tine  estate  con- 
taining 154  acres  of  valuable  land,  lie  was 
born  July  3,  1849,  in  Rush  County,  Iiid., 
and  is  the  son  of  John  A.  and  Rebecca  (Maze) 
Boyd.  John  Boyd  was  born  in  Harrison  County, 
Ky.,  Oct.  12,  1805,  and  is  the  son  of  Arthur  Boyd. 
About  the  year  1817  his  parents  removed  to  Fay- 
ette  County,  Ind.,  and  subsequently  to  Rush 
County,  where  his  marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca  Maze 
took  place.  Mrs.  Boyd  was  likewise  a  native  of 


Harrison  County,  Ky.,  and  was  born  Aug.  25,  1810. 

In  1851  John  Boyd  removed  with  his  family  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  Hutton  Township,  Coles  County. 
They  remained  on  a  farm  there  nine  years,  and 
then  removed  to  North  Okaw  Township,  where  Mr. 
Boyd  operated  a  sawmill  one  year,  and  subse- 
quently changed  his  residence  to  Humbolt  Town- 
ship. While  operating  the  sawmill  in  North  Okaw 
Township,  he  met  with  an  accident  which  crippled 
his  hands  so  seriously  as  to  render  him  unfit  for 
manual  labor,  in  consequence  of  which  he  opened 
a  boarding-house  at  Humbolt.  After  managing 
the  house  five  years  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish 
active  business,  and  is  now  passing  the  closing 
3'ears  of  his  life  in  the  home  of  his  son,  Joseph  E. 
Boyd.  He  was  blest  with  a  vigorous  physique, 
and  although  eighty-two  years  of  age  is  still  hale 
and  hearty.  He  has  recently  been  bereaved  of  the 
beloved  companion,  who  shared  the  joys  and  sor- 
rows of  a  long  life  with  him,  her  death  occurring 
in  December,  1886.  They  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  five  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Their 
record  is  as  follows:  William  A.,  deceased;  Mary 
E.,  deceased,  was  formerly  the  wife  of  Dr.  V.  R. 
Bridges;  Fannie,  deceased,  was  formerly  the  wife 
of  David  S.  Junkin;  Robert  T.,  a  resident  of 
Mattoon,  and  Joseph  E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  Joseph  Boyd  com- 
menced mercantile  life  as  a  clerk,  and  has  been  en- 
gaged more  or  less  in  that  business  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  Feb.  6,  1872,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Alice  B.  Nabb.  Mrs.  Boyd  is  the 
daughter  of  Hamilton  and  Martha  E.  Nabb,  and 
was  born  Feb.  2,  1854,  at  Lawrenceville,  111.  Mr. 
Boyd  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  the 
first  year  after  his  marriage,  when  his  health  began 
to  fail,  on  account  of  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs.  By 
advice  of  his  physician,  he  left  the  store  and  carried 
on  a  farm  six  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  his  health  seemed  apparently  restored,  and  he 
again  entered  upon  mercantile  life.  His  abilities 
and  inclinations  both  led  him  in  that  direction, 
rather  than  toward  agricultural  pursuits,  but  after 
a  trial  of  six  months,  his  health  again  failing  he 
found  himself  compelled  to  relinquish  the  mercan- 
tile business  and  return  to  farming. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyd  had  a  family  of  six  children 


T 


COLES   COUNTY. 


231 


born  to  them,  only  three  of  whom  arc  now  living — 
Flora  R.,  John  II.  and  William  V.  Mr.  Boyd  is  a 
public-spirited  man,  interested  in  all  the  affairs  of 
the  county.  He  has  held  many  minor  offices  of  his 
township,  serving-  as  Collector  for  seven  terms, 
and  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  .Supervisor, 
being  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  and 
giving  satisfaction  to  the  people,  whose  interests  he 
is  ever  careful  to  promote.  Mr.  B.  is  a  highly 
esteemed  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
in  politics  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  Democratic 
principles. 


J"l  OIINSON  ELLISON  is  a  native  of  Adams 
I  County,  Ohio,  where  his  birth  took  place 
I  May  14,  1811,  and  where  he  lived  with  his 
'  parents  until  1862.  He  comes  of  an  ex- 
cellent family,  which  originated  in  Ireland,  his 
grandfather  having  been  John  Allison,  who  was 
born  in  County  Tyrone.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
a  wheelwright  and  was  married  in  his  native  Ire- 
land, where  his  four  sons  and  one  daughter  were 
born.  These  were  John,  James,  Andrew,  Robert 
and  Margaret.  All  grew  to  mature  years,  married 
and  reared  families  of  their  own,  and  all  emigrated 
to  America  with  their  father  in  about  1790.  Grand- 
father Ellison  _  located  in  Kentucky,  whence  he 
afterward  removed  to  Manchester,  Ohio,  where  his 
wife  died  first  and  himself  afterward,  he  being 
seventy-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  decease. 
His  sons  all  settled  in  Adams  County,  Ohio.  The 
daughter  married  John  Clark  and  reared  a  family. 
Late  in  life  she  and  her  husband  removed  to  Indi- 
anapolis, Ind.,  where  the  decease  of  both  took 
place,  that  of  Mrs.  Clark  when  she  had  attained  an 
advanced  age. 

James  Ellison,  Sr.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
the  second  child  of  his  parents,  and  born  in  Coun- 
ty Tyrone,  Ireland.  He  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Givcns,  a  na- 
tive of  his  own  county,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  four  children — Mary,  Isabel,  Jane  and  George. 
The  mother  of  these  died  after  emigrating  to 
America.  The  children  grew  to  mature  years  and 
all  died  in  Ohio.  The  second  wife  of  James  Elli- 
son was  Miss  Sidney  McClanahan,  a  native  of  his 


own  country.  They  were  married  in  Kentucky, 
and  afterward  removed  to  Adams  County,  Ohio, 
where  Mr.  E.  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  opened 
up  a  fine  farm  which  he  occupied  until  his  death, 
when  about  seventy-three  years  of  age.  The  wife 
and  mother  survived  several  years  and  also  died 
on  the  old  homestead.  They  were  people  greatly 
respected  in  their  community,  and  active  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Their  children  are 
recorded  as  follows:  Elizabeth  died  when  an  in- 
teresting young  lady  twenty  years  of  age;  James 
is  unmarried,  and  makes  his  home  with  our  subject; 
John  was  twice  married,  and  is  now  deceased ;  Sid- 
ney died  when  about  thirty  years  old;  Margaret, 
the  wife  of  Jiimes  Baldridge,  is  deceased,  as  is  also 
Rebecca,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifty  years;  John- 
son of  our  sketch  was  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Ellison  was  but  five  years  of  age  when  his 
father  died.  He  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion and  assisted  his  mother  on  the  farm  until  his 
marriage,  which  took  place  in  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  July  26,  1837.  The  maiden  of  his  choice  was 
Miss  Elizabeth  Boyle,  a  native  of  Cumberland 
County,  Md.,  and  born  June  17,  1817.  Her  par- 
ents, John  and  Mary  (Winow)  Boyle,  were  also  na- 
tives of  Maryland.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ellison 
and  his  brother  James  carried  on  farming  for  a 
number  of  years  in  Adams  County,  then  selling  out, 
moved  in  the  fall  of  1862  further  westward,  locat- 
ing in  N.  Okaw  Township,  this  county.  James  about 
ten  years  before  had  entered  320  acres  of  land  for 
our  subject,  but  no  improvements  had  been  effected. 
As  Mr.  Ellison  viewed  the  task  before  him  of 
bringing  the  soil  to  a  good  state  of  cultivation  he 
anticipated  years  of  arduous  and  continuous  labor. 
He  lost  no  time,  however,  IH  contemplating  a  dif- 
ficult task,  but  set  about  the  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  his  land,  and  in  due  time  was  richly 
rewarded.  He  at  one  time  was  the  owner  of  600 
acres,  but  divided  with  his  children  as  they  became 
old  enough  to  settle  in  life,  and  now  occupies  but 
forty  acres.  On  the  26th  of  October,  1878,  he  met 
with  a  great  affliction  in  the  loss  of  his  wife  who 
had  been  his  kind  companion  and  counselor  for  a 
period  of  forty-one  years.  The  family  history  of 
this  estimable  lady  is  substantially  as  follows: 

Mrs.    Elizabeth    Ellison   was   born   in  Maryland 


232 


COLES    COUNTY. 


1 


June  17,  1817,  and  removed  with  her  parents  to 
Ohio  when  a  child  of  about  four  years  old.  She 
was  thoughtful  beyond  her  years,  and  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  she  remained  a  consistent  mem- 
ber until  her  death.  Her  marriage  to  our  subject 
took  place  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  July  26,  1 837, 
and  she  accompanied  him  to  this  county  with  her 
family  in  18G2.  After  coming  to  Illinois  she  identi- 
fied herself  with  the  Quinn  Chapel  Class,  on  the 
Humbolt  Circuit,  and  was  numbered  among  its 
most  useful  and  valued  members.  The  kindly 
Christian  influence  which  she  sbed  around  her  was 
the  means  of  great  good  to  both  old  and  young, 
and  her  "name  is  held  in  affectionate  remembrance 
by  hosts  of  friends.  Johnson  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Ellison  became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  who 
are  recorded  as  follows :  Mary  Ann,  born  Sept.  1, 
1840,  is  the  wife  of  William  Seaman,  a  prosperous 
fanner  of  Humbolt  Township;  Margaret,  born 
March  1,  1843,  is  living  at  home;  James  II.,  born 
April  12,  1845,  first  married  Miss  Rachel  Wilson, 
who  died  leaving  one  child;  he  afterward  married 
Miss  Hattie  Gibbs,  and  farms  in  North  Okaw  Town- 
ship; Rebecca  J.,  born  Oct.  20,  1847,  is  the  wife 
of  Wilson  Fleming,  of  North  Okaw  Township; 
John,  born  March  9,  1850,  married  Miss  Maggie  A. 
Miller;  she  became  the  mother  of  two  children, 
and  departed  this  life  March  20,  1887.  William  A., 
born  April  13,  1853,  married  first  Miss  Mollie 
Checkley,  who  died  leaving  two  children ;  he  was 
afterward  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Miller,  Sept.  2, 
1884,  and  they  are  living  in  North  Okaw  Township; 
Susan  A.,  born  Sept.  30,  1856,  is  the  wife  of  John 
C.  Ellis,  a  resident  of  Thomas  County,  Kan. ; 
George  F.,  born  July  80,  1859,  died  on  his  father's 
homestead  in  1872. 

Mr.  Ellison  and  his  brother  James  still  continue 
together,  their  household  affairs  being  managed  by 
Margaret,  the  daughter  of  our  subject.  The  latter, 
although  mostly  engaged  in  business  affairs,  having 
little  time  to  meddle  with  politics,  performs  his 
duty  at  the  polls  and  assists  in  perpetuating  the  Re- 
publican party. 

James  Ellison,  our  subject's  brother,  whose  school 
days,  like  those  of  his  brothers,  were  of  brief  dura- 
tion, was  a  youth  of  eighteen  years  when  the  family 


was  deprived  of  a  father's  care,  and  he  was  charged 
with  the  responsibility  of  assisting  his  mother  in 
looking  after  the  farm  and  family.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-four  years,  when  he  could  be  spared  from 
home,  he  went  into  Kanawha  County,  now  W.  Va., 
and  engaged  in  making  salt,  having  charge  of  the 
works  at  Kanawha,  and  being  paid  three  cents  per 
bushel,  with  coal  and  water  found.  He  was  thus 
employed  about  seven  years,  up  to  1833,  and  then 
returning  to  Ohio  operated  the  old  homestead  un- 
til about  the  time  of  the  Jackson  administration; 
he  then  came  to  this  county  and  entered  a  tract  of 
land,  and  for  the  following  fifteen  years  made 
several  trips  to  and  fro. 

James  Ellison  has  been  the  close  companion  of 
his  brother  since  settling  in  this  county,  and  their 
fraternal  regard  for  each  other  is  often  made  a  sub- 
ject of  remark.  As  stated  above,  he  has  never 
married.  He  is  a  quiet  and  unobtrusive  citizen 
and  has  been  no  unimportant  factor  in  the  building 
up  of  this  section  of  country.  He  still  owns  the 
land  he  entered  from  the  Government,  and  has  a 
valuable  property  embracing  1,000  acres  in  Illinois, 
mostly  in  Coles  County.  He  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Gen.  Jackson,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
During  the  war  he  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Union  cause. 


EVERIIARTY,  proprietor  of  a  meat-mar- 
ket on  West  Broadway,  now  serving  his 
fourth  term  as  Alderman  of  the  Second 
Ward,  is  one  of  the  prominent  German 
citizens  of  Mattoon.  He  was  born  in  Prussia,  June 
28,  1833,  and  is  the  son  of  Matthias  and  Margaret 
(Kemmer)  Everharty,  the  former  a  native  of 
France  and  the  latter  of  Prussia.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  a  weaver  by  trade,  and  was  among 
the  first  of  his  countrymen  who  emigrated  to 
America.  He  came  in  1837  and  settled  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  the  first  employment  he  procured 
beino;  on  the  White  Water  Canal.  He  was  indus- 

O 

trious  and  frugal,  but  unfortunately  placed  the 
money  received  for  his  services  in  a  bank,  which 
went  down  during  a  financial  crash,  sweeping  with 


IH 


COLES    COUNTY. 


233 


i 


it  fill  of  his  hard-earned  savings.  He  next  engaged 
in  the  business  of  market  gardening  near  the  city, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  Germans  who  undertook 
that  work  in  Cincinnati.  He  had  a  small  farm  and 
kept  an  excellent  garden,  supplying  the  city  market 
with  fresh  fruits  and  vegetables,  by  this  means 
making  himself  quite  independent  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1 866. 

When  Mr.  E.  emigrated  to  America  he  was  ac- 
companied by  his  aged  father,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  French  army  and  had  served  seven  years 
under  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  He  made  his  home 
with  his  sons  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1850.  Five  years  later  his  widow  died  in  her 
native  land.  Matthias  Everharty  had  a  family  of 
nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living,  and 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  Mtthias,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Jacob,  a  resident  of  Los  Angeles.  Cal. ; 
Josephine,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Papp,  a  resident  of 
Leaven  worth,  Kan.;  Agnes,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Haag, 
and  Peter,  both  of  the  latter  residents  of  Leaven- 
worth,  Kan.  Mr.  Everharty  was  a  Democrat,  and 
with  his  family  belonged  to  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church. 

Our  subject  was  brought  up  at  home,  assisting 
his  father  in  the  labor  of  the  farm  and  garden  until 
1 848,  when  he  spent  two  years  learning  the  butch- 
er's trade,  and  was  engaged  in  that  business  several 
years  in  Cincinnati.  In  1860  he  changed  his  occupa- 
tion, and  embarked  in  a  variety  show  under  the  firm 
name  of  Everharty  &  Palmer.  Two  seasons  sufficed 
for  this  employment,  and  he  then  obtained  a  posi- 
tion as  beef  agent  in  the  Commissary  Department 
of  the  army.  He  purchased  and  supervised  the 
slaughter  of  the  cattle,  and  also  had  charge  of.  the 
distribution  of  rations  to  the  soldiers.  He  served 
in  that  position  three  years,  and  was  once  shot  by 
a  party  of  bushwhackers  in  Tennessee,  receiving  a 
flesh  wound  in  the  arm,  arid  was  taken  prisoner,  but 
detained  only  a  short  time.  After  his  return  from 
the  war,  he  came  to  Mattoon  and  engaged  in  his 
present  business.  In  1874  he  purchased  fift}'  feet 
of  land  fronting  on  West  Broadway,  and  erected  a 
substantial  brick  business  house.  He  also  pur- 
chased five  acres  on  West  First  street,  where  he 
resides.  He  owns  a  share  in  the  fair  ground,  and 
an  interest  in  the  Natural  Gas  Company,  and  also 


in  the  Real-Estate  and    Loan  Association  of  Mat- 
toon. 

In  1854  Mr.  Everharty  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Horn.  Mrs.  Everharty  is  the  daughter 
of  John  Horn,  and  was  born  in  Havre  de  Gras, 
France,  coming  with  her  parents  to  America  in 
1836,  and  settling  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  They  have 
a  family  of  four  children,  all  of  whom  are  residents 
of  this  city.  Their  names  are  as  follows :  Cather- 
ine, the  wife  of  Mr.  Mead;  John;  Annie  L.,  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Cleveland,  and  Maggie,  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Timmans.  Mr.  Everharty  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat. 


ZEKIEL  EASTON,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  is 
the  owner  of  a  fine  estate  containing  about 
seventy-seven  acres,  located  on  section  18, 
Hutton  Township,  where  he  resides.  He  was  born 
April  6,  1831.  in  Clark  County,  111.,  and  is  the  son 
of  Daniel  and  Mary  (York)  Easton.  His  paternal 
grandparents,  Richard  and  Betsy  Easton,  were  na- 
tives of  Kentucky.  Richard  Easton  was  a  success- 
ful farmer  in  his  native  State,  and  when  about  sixty 
years  of  age  removed  to  Clark  County,  111.,  where 
he  rented  land,  and  after  remaining  a  few  years  re- 
7noved  to  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  this  county, 
where  his  wife  died.  Mr.  Easton  subsequently 
married  Miss  Celia  Waltrip,  and  his  death  took 
place  about  six  years  after  his  second  marriage. 
A  family  of  eleven  children  was  born  by  the  first 
marriage — Jackson,  Delia,  Daniel,  Zachariah,  Nancy, 
Washington,  Wesley,  Betsy,  Harmon,  Silas  and 
Arena.  All  married  but  Silas,  and  all  are  deceased 
with  the  exception  of  Harmon  and  Wesley. 

Daniel  Easton  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1807, 
and  received  a  common-school  education,  living  on 
the  old  homestead  with  his  parents  and  assisting  in 
the  farm  labor  until  his  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
York.  Soon  after  that  event  he  left  his  native 
State  and  came  to  Crawford  County,  111.,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land  for  about 
six  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  re- 
moved to  Clark  County,  and  after  remaining  a  few 
years,  came  in  1833  to  Coles  County  and  made  his 


234 


COLES    COUNTY. 


1 


permanent  home  in  Hutton  Township.  He  bravely 
encountered  the  difficulties  of  pioneer  life,  and 
made  a  home  in  the  wilderness  for  himself  and  his 
family.  His  death  occurred  at  the  homestead  in 
March,  1882,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  His 
widow  is  still  living,  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
son  Stephen,  in  this  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Easton  were  highly  esteemed  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church.  They  had  a  family 
of  twelve  children,  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
William  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six;  Betsey 
Jane,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  George  Wilson, 
and  left  eight  children;  Isaac  N.  married  Miss 
Julia  Tucker;  his  wife  died  leaving  five  children. 
Ezekicl  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;  James  O.  mar- 
ried Miss  Lucy  Darling,  and  died  leaving  six  chil- 
dren; Archie  married  Miss  Mary  Turner,  and  is  the 
father  of  two  children;  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  A. 
Winternute;  Mary  A.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one;  John  S.  married  Miss  Rissa  Johnson;  Stephen 
resides  near  Stockton,  with  his  mother;  Charles 
married  Miss  Emma  Pansier,  and  resides  in  Dan- 
ville, 111.;  Marion  A.  married  Miss  Rebecca  A. 
Rounds. 

Ezekiel  Easton  was  brought  up  in  the  early  pio- 
neer days  of  this  county,  and  his  education  was 
necessarily  very  limited.  During  his  boyhood  he 
resided  on  the  homestead  and  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  in  which  he  has  been  occupied  through- 
out the  greater  part  of  his  life.  In  1872  he  pur- 
chased his  farm  as  a  pleasant  home  residence,  and 
his  sons  have  charge  of  the  place,  and  do  most  of 
the  work.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca  J.  Or- 
chard took  place  July  12,  1853.  Mrs.  Easton  was 
born  Jan.  3,  1834,  in  Hntton  Township,  this  county, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Jane  (Richard- 
son) Orchard.  Her  -parents  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  removing  to  Illinois,  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Coles  County.  Her  father  was 
born  July  26,  1801,  in  Kentucky,  and  died  Dec.  4, 
1870,  at  his  home  in  this  county.  His  widow,  who 
survived  him  several  years,  was  born  March  31, 
1804,  and  died  Oct.  18,  1879. 

Mrs.  Easton's  grandfather,  Alexander  Orchard, 
was  a  Baptist  minister  and  had  charge  of  a  church 
in  Madison  County  for  forty  years.  His  wife  was 
Miss  Sally  Owens,  and  they  had  a  family  of  five 


children — William,  Levi,  James,  Nancy  and  Josie. 
None  of  the  family  are  now  living.  James  served 
in  the  Mexican  War;  AVilliam  married  Jane  Rich- 
ardson, and  a  family  of  five  children  was  born  to 
them:  Mary  A.  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Smith,  and 
both  died  leaving  two  children;  Sally,  the  wife  of 
David  Martin;  Fannie  Ann,  the  wife  of  C.  R.  Mar- 
tin; Rebecca  J.,  and  Nancy  J.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  seventeen.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orchard  were  both 
members  of  the  Christian  Church  and  endeavored 
to  instill  into  the  minds  of  their  children,  the  pure 
and  holy  principles  of  that  faith. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Easton  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Melissa  E.,  born  May  14,  1854, 
was  married,  Jan.  27,  1876,  to  William  Tippy ;  Will- 
iam R.,  born  Sept.  8,  1861,  married  Miss  Sally 
Neese,  and  his  wife  died,  leaving  one  child,  Mary; 
Rosetta,  born  May  14,  1866;  James  C.,  Nov.  14, 
1869;  Charles  O.,  Sept.  1,  1876;  Elder,  June  11, 
1879,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  After  his 
marriage  Mr  Easton  was  successfully  engaged  at  his 
trade,  in  which  he  is  still  occupied.  With  his  wife, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  poli- 
tics belongs  to  the  Democratic  party,  having  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Zachary  Taylor. 


RILEY  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm 
containing  120  acres  of  valuable  land,  lo- 
cated on  section  15,  Pleasant  Grove  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  March  16,  1827,  in  Kentucky, 
and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Delila  (Gibson)  Riley. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Patrick  Riley,  emigrated 
from  Ireland  at  an  early  day,  and  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  his  son  James  was  born.  Delila  Gib- 
son was  likewise  a  native  of  Virginia.  She  was  the 
second  wife  of  James  Riley.  Their  marriage  took 
place  in  Kentucky,  and  they  afterward  removed  to 
Boone  County,  Ind.,  making  a  permanent  home 
there.  Their  family  consisted  of  eighteen  children, 
of  whom  Nimrod  was  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 
There  are  only  three  now  living — William  and 
Jacob,  residents  of  Ottawa  County,  Mo.,  and  Nim- 
rod, the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Nimrod    Riley  passed   his   boyhood  in    Indiana, 
where    the   advantages    for    education    were    ex- 
.,     , 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

WVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


COLES   COUNTY. 


237 


tremely  limited  in  the  pioneer  days;  however,  lie 
gained  all  the  knowledge  posssible  and  learned  much 
from  practical  experience.  On  the  -26th  of  May 
1840.  he  married  Miss  Martha  Saxson.  Mrs.  Riley 
was  born  Jan.  15,  1  !•>•>?,  in  Marion  County,  Ind., 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Martha  (Davis) 
Saxson.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Kentuck}1, 
but  subsequently  removed  to  Indiana,  where  her 
mother's  death  occurred.  Her  father  died  in  Ot- 
tawa County,  Mo.  Their  family  consisted  of  six 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living.  Their 
names  are  as  follows:  Betsy,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Bride,  a  resident  of  Missouri;  Permelia,  the  wife  of 
MV.  Combs,  a  resident  of  Ottawa  County,  the  same 
State';  John,  a  resident  of  Cass  County,  Mo.,  and 
Martha,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Riley. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Riley  gave  his  attention 
to  farming,  remaining,  in  Boone  County  until  1801, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Coles 
Count}'.  He  first  located  on  the  borders  of  the 
Kickapoo  River,  and  in  1804  purchased  his  present 
farm,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  owns  120 
acres,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  twenty 
acres,  is  well  improved. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riley  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren born  to  then,  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
John,  James;  Mary,  the  wife  of  John  B.  Sapp; 
William  ;  Sirena,  the  wife  of  James  Ransdell;  Irene, 
deceased;  Nannie,  deceased,  and  George  W.  Mr. 
Riley  is  not  actively  interested  in  politics,  but 
always  votes  with  the  Democratic  party. 


bL.  SILVKRTHORN,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  most 
,  prominent    and    successful     physicians    of 
,  Charleston,  and  whose  portrait  is   shown  on 

the  opposite  page,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  coun- 
ty for  many  years,  building  up  a  good  practice, 
accumulating  a  competency,  and  thoroughly  identi- 
fying himself  with  the  interests  of  the  people.  He 
comes  of  excellent  ancestry,  and  the  first  representa- 
tives of  his  family  in  this  country  located  in  Penn- 
sylvania, which  was  the  birthplace  of  his  father, 
Nicholas  Silverthorn,  who  was  born  May  12,  1787, 
and  there  passed  his  early  life. 

Dr.  Silverthorn  was  born  in  Stroudsburg,   Mon- 


roe  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  -21,  1830.  His  mother,  Margaret 
(Linn)  Silverthorn,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
and  was  of  Scotch  and  German  ancestry.  She  mar- 
ried Nicholas  Silverthorn  in  or  near  Belvidere,  N. 
J.,  June  23,  1810,  and  in  1833  they  became  resi- 
dents of  Blairstown,  N.  J.,  where  they  remained 
until  1 843,  and  thence  removed  to  Orange  County, 
N.  Y.  The  elder  Silverthorn  was  a  tailor  by  trade, 
but  was  fond  of  country  life  and  followed  farming 
in  connection  with  his  trade.  In  1848,  he  migrated 
from  New  York  to  Rock  County,  Wis.,  where  he 
purchased  160  acres  of  unimproved  land,  and  in 
connection  with  his  trade,  proceeded  to  build  up  a 
home.  He  erected  a  plank  house,  set  out  fruit  and 
shade  trees,  and  occupied  the  homestead  thus  es- 
tablished until  his  death,  in  1874,  after  he  had  ar- 
rived at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 
The  mother  survived  her  husband  until  the  29th  of 
August*  1884,  being  within  fourteen  days  of  ninety- 
five  years. 

The  parental  household  included  twelve  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  was  the  youngest,  and  seven 
still  survive :  Oliver  is  a  resident  of  Iowa;  Lewis, 
of  Albany,  Wis.,  and  Mary  M.,  Daniel,  Jehial,  and 
Finley  are  residents  of  Rock  County,  Wis.  Our 
subject  made  his  home  on  the  farm  of  his  parents, 
receiving,  in  common  with  his  brothers  and  sisters, 
careful  training  and  a  good  education  in  the  dis- 
trict school.  Early  in  life,  however,  he  began  to  work 
away  from  home,  and  was  variously  employed  un- 
til eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced 
teaching  in  Rock  County,  being  thus  employed 
four  successive  winters,  and  during  the  summer 
worked  at  farming  and  carpentering.  This  kind  of 
life,  however,  did  not  satisfy  his  ambition.  He 
had  always  taken  an  interest  in  medical  works,  and 
commenced  to  read  medicine  regularly  at  Fond  du 
Lac,  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Olds,  with  whom 
he  remained  several  months,  turning  his  attention 
principally  to  diseases  of  the  eye.  In  1854  he 
went  to  Paris,  Edgar  County,  where  he  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  alone, 
making  a  specialty  of  treating  the  eye  and  meet- 
ing with  fine  success.  He  was  convinced,  however, 
that  it  would  be  to  his  advantage  to  still  pursue  his 
studies  in  this  direction,  and  coining  to  Charleston 
gave  his  attention  to  his  books  and  placed  himself 


T 


f. 


238 


COLES   COUNTY. 


under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  T.  B.  Trovver.  In  tin- 
winter  of  1855-56  he  entered  the  Jefferson  College, 
where  he  took  a  thorough  course,  and  after  his 
return  commenced  a  general  practice  which  he  has 
since  continued. 

Dr.  '•'ilverthorn  has  wisely  invested  his  surplus 
capital  in  real  estate,  becoming  largely  interested 
in  mineral  lands  in  Clear  Creek,  Summit,  and 
Chaffee  Counties,  Col.  His  mines  contain  gold,  sil- 
ver, copper  and  lead,  and  are  being  developed,  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  In  connection  with  these  far- 
away interests,  however,  he  has  not  forgotten  the 
city  where  he  makes  his  abiding-place,  but  has 
assisted  to  build  up  both  its  business  and  residence 
portions,  especially  the  latter.  He  has  one  business 
block  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square,  and 
several  tenements  which  he  rents  to  good  advantage. 
While  having  many  interests  to  look  after  he  neg- 
lects none,  and  his  clear  head  and  cool  judgment 
are  indicated  in  his  successful  management  of  both 
his  practice  and  his  finances.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  American  Medical  Association,  the 
Illinois  Medical  and  the  Esculapian  Societies  of  the 
Wabash  Valley.  Politically  he  alliliates  with  the 
Democratic  party,  and  socially  is  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Silverthorn  and  Miss  Ame- 
rial  Trower  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride's 
parents  in  Charleston,  Oct.  8,  185G.  Mrs.  S.  is 
the  daughter  of  Dr.  T.  B.  Trower,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, who.  came  to  this  State  in  1830,  locating  first 
in  Shelbyville.  Thence  six  years  later  he  removed 
to  Charleston,  where  he  became  prominent  as  a  suc- 
cessful physician,  and  where  his  death  took  place 
in  April,  1878.  His  family  included  five  children, 
of  whom  the  wife  of  our  subject  was  the  eldest. 


ELI  FOSTER,  one  of  the  most  influential  and 
respected  citizens  of  Seven  Hickory  Town- 
ship, is  an  extensive  stock-grower,  and  the 
owner  of  a  fine  estate  containing  370  acres  of  val- 
uable land.     He  was  born  Aug.  12.  1827,  in  Law- 
rence Count}',  Ind.,  and   is  the  son  of  William  and 
Sarah  (McCormic)  Foster.    His  family  were  among 
the  early  English  settlers  of  Virginia,  and  William 


Foster  was  a  successful  farmer  in'that  State,  but 
attracted  by  the  superior  advantages  which  the 
opening  of  a  new  country  offers,  he  came  to 
Indiana  at  an  earl}'  day  and  made  his  permanent 
home  there.  His  wife  was  born  about  1799,  just 
at  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  died 
Sept.  4,  1873.  Her  family  was  of  Scotch  and  Irish 
extraction,  from  which  nationalities  many  among 
the  shrewdest  and  most  intelligent  citi/.ens  of  the 
country  have  descended. 

Mr.  Foster  was  a  man  of  great  intelligence  and 
uprightness  of  character.  He  was  actively  inter- 
ested in  promoting  the  cause  of  religion  in  the 
West,  and  for  nearly  forty  years  was  a  Deacon  in 
the  Christian  Church,  of  which  his  wife  was  also  a 
member.  He  was  ever  ready  to  forward  any  meas- 
ures tending  to  promote  thu  welfare  of  the  commu- 
nity and  held  several  of  the  township  offices.  His 
death  occurred  at  the  homestead  in  Indiana  Oct.  5, 
1874.  The  following  is  the  record  of  their  family: 
James  died  in  childhood ;  Ann  Jemima,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Hyrutn  Guthrey;  Emarsetta  is  the 
wife  of  Hamilton  Dixon;  Susanna  was  married  to 
Lemuel  Proctor;  Samuel,  deceased,  married  Miss 
Lida  Beasley;  Eli  is  the  subject  of  thrs  sketch; 
John  married  Miss  Catherine  Beggs;  Henrietta,  de- 
ceased, was  the  wife  of  William  Hill;  Jane  was  mar- 
ried to  Rapin  Newkirk;  Elizabeth  and  Nixon  are 
single  and  at  home. 

Eli  Foster  married  Miss  Harriet  Armstrong  in 
August,  1855.  Mrs.  Foster  is  the  daughter  of 
Cummings  and  Elizabeth  (Goodman)  Armstrong. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  but  subse- 
quently moved  to  Indiana,  where  their  daughter 
Harriet  was  born,  Sept.  2,  1831,  in  Clark  County. 
Mr.  Armstrong  was  a  farmer,  and  passed  the  clos- 
ing years  of  his  life  in  the  latter-named  State, 
where  his  death  occurred  about  forty  years  ago. 
He  left  a  family  of  five  children — Harriet,  Thomas, 
Elizabeth,  Rebecca  and  James. 

In  1858  Mr.  'Foster  carne  to  Illinois  with  his 
young  wife.  The  only  capital  that  he  possessed  ex- 
isted in  his  shrewd  business  qualifications,  energy 
and  enterprise,  and  through  the  exercise  of  these, 
aided  by  the  good  judgment  and  housewifely  skill 
of  a  devoted  wife,  he  has  acquired  a  fine  property, 
and  is  numbered  among  the  wealthy  men  of  the 


i 


COLES   COUNTY. 


239 


township.  He  carries  on  an  extensive  business  in 
stock-raising,  and  his  residence  and  farm  buildings 
are  commodious  and  well  appointed. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster  have  had  a  family  of  seven 
children :  Horace  B.  died  at  the  age  of  four  years; 
Ida  15.  is  now  Mrs.  VanVoorhees;  William  K., 
Homer  L.,  Rosina,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Foster,  with  his  wife  and  daughters,  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church  for  many  years,  in 
which  they  are  all  earnest  workers.  lie  is  interested 
in  educational  affairs,  and  has  held  the  ottice  of 
School  Trustee. 


— •>— ^t  —i : 

<ji?  AMES  II.  CLARK,  who  is  engaged  in  rcal- 
estate  and  loan  transactions,  including  in- 
vestment securities,  is  a  representative  busi- 
ness man  of  Mattoon,  where  he  has  been 
located  since  the  spring  of  1859.  He  first  drew 
breath  in  Putnam  County,  I  ml.,  Feb.  2G,  1836,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Eliza  (Newman)  Clark, 
natives  of  Virginia.  They  removed  with  their 
parents  to  Kentucky  early  in  life,  and  after  roach- 
ing  manhood  John  Clark  engaged  extensively  in 
farming,  remaining  in  the  Blue  Grass  regions  until 
1  s-28.  He  then  sold  out  and  emigrated  to  Putnam 
County,  Ind.,  where  he  occupied  himself  as  before 
until  the  fall  of  1868,  when  he  sold  out  there  and 
came  to  Mattoon,  and  now  lives  with  his  son, 
Frank  T.  Both  parents  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  mother  de- 
parted this  life  in  January,  1885,  going  to  her  rest 
sustained  by  the  hope  and  faith  which  had  been  her 
stay  and  support  through  a  long  and  worthy  life. 
The  house  of  John  Clark  and  his  wife  had  often 
served  as  a  place  of  worship  in  the  early  days,  and 
the  services  were  not  infrequently  conducted  by 
Bishops  Simpson,  Ames  and  Bowman,  who  after- 
ward became  famous  in  connection  with  this 
Church.  Bishop  Bowman  was  a  close  friend  of  the 
family,  and  often  visited  them  in  Indiana.  John 
Clark  was  one  of  the  first  men  to  subscribe  $100 
for  a  scholarship  in  Greencastle  College,  lie  was 
a  man  of  great  force  of  character  and  delighted  in 


encouraging  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of 
educational  and  religions  institutions. 

The  household  circle  of  John  Clark  and  his  wife 
was  -completed  by  the  birth  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  six  are  now  living,  and  recorded  as  follows: 
Alexander  N.  is  carrying  on  merchandising  at 
Clayton,  Ind. ;  Joseph  H.  is  engaged  in  buying  and 
selling  real-estate  at  Indianapolis;  he  was  formerly 
a  resident  of  Mattoon  and  organized  the  National 
Bank  there,  of  which  he  was  President  for  a  num- 
ber of  years;  James  H.,  of  our  sketch,  was  the 
third  son;  Elijah  M.,  a  resident  of  Mattoon,  is 
traveling  for  the  firm  of  Roberts  <k  Allison,  of  In- 
dianapolis; Margaret  E.,  the  wife  of  J.  Harrison,  is 
the  mother  of  one  child,  a  daughter,  Katie;  Frank 
T.  is  living  in  Mattoon. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  received  his  early 
education  in  the  log  school-house  among  the  tim- 
ber of  Putnam  County,  Ind.  The  temple  of  learn- 
ing was  a  rude  structure  with  puncheon  floor  and 
home-made  seats  and  desks.  For  the  window  a 
log  was  left  out  and  the  aperture  filled  with  glass, 
which  was  considered  quite  stylish  and  an  improve- 
ment upon  greased  paper,  which  was  often  used  in 
those  days.  The  school  was  conducted  mainly  in 
the  winter  season,  and  our  subject  attended  from 
two  to  four  mouths  each  year  until  twenty-two 
years  old.  He  made  good  use  of  his  opportunities, 
however,  and  at  the  expiration  of  this  time  entered 
Greencastle  College,  where  he  pursued  a  thorough 
course  of  study  for  two  years.  He  located  in  Mat- 
toon  in  1859,  and  engaged  first  in  general  mer- 
chandising, in  which  he  was  occupied  until  1869. 
Being  then  appointed  Postmaster  by  President 
Grant,  he  sold  out  his  stock  of  goods  and  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  which  he  held  for  a 
period  of  sixteen  years.  Upon  the  change  of  ad- 
ministration he  found  it  convenient  to  withdraw 
and  engaged  in  his  present  business. 

Mr.  Clark  was  married  in  Forest  Port,  Oneida 
Co.,N.  Y.,  in  the  spring  of  1864,  to  Miss  Samautha 
Tyler,  a  native  of  said  county.  She  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Amos  and  Elizabeth  (Lawtou)  Tyler,  natives 
of  Vermont  and  New  York  respectively.  Her 
father  was  a  successful  farmer  of  the  Green  Mount- 
ain State,  and  both  parents  are  now  deceased 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  no  children.  Their 


t 


240 


COLES    COUNTY. 


pleasant  and  attractive  home  is  located  at  No.  ;V.) 
Essex  street,  and  they  enjoy  the  friendship  of  the 
best  people  of  Mattoon.  Mr.  Clark,  politically,  is 
a  straight  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  he  and  his  estimable  lad}-  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


eOMMODORE  D.  GREEN,  a  prosperous 
young  farmer  and  stock-grower  of  Ashmore 
Township,  is  a  native  of  the  township  where 
he  now  lives,  and  was  born  March  2,  1861.  He  is 
characterized  by  that  energ3'  of  character  so  essen- 
tial to  success,  and  although  comparatively  young 
in  years,  has  already  attained  to  a  good  position 
among  the  substantial  farmers  and  business  men  of 
Coles  County.  He  comes  from  a  good  family,  his 
parents  being  John  and  Mary  T.  (Patenger)  Green, 
natives  of  Ohio.  The  former.  was  born  in  1820, 
and  the  latter  in  1835,  and  they  became  residents 
of  this  county  in  1860.  Mr.  Green,  who  is  now 
well  advanced  in  years,  'is  a  large  property-holder 
in  this  section,  and  occupies  one  of  the  most  im- 
posing homesteads  in  Ashmore  Township.  It  is 
finely  located  on  section  5,  and  includes  a  hand- 
some and  commodious  residence  with  barns,  out- 
buildings, valuable  machinery  and  stock,  and  every- 
thing appertaining  to  the  modern  country  estate. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  are  both  members  iu 
good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  John 
Green  is  one  of  the  stanchest  adherents  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  Their  children  are,  William  S., 
who*  married  Miss  Urmina  Goble;  Granville  D., 
/who  married  Miss  Prudence  C.  Mack;  Commodore 
D.,  of  our  sketch;  Seymour,  Walter  S.,  Mayer, 
Norman,  Earnest,  Otis  and  Oris;  the  latter  are 
twins. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  remained  under  the 
home  roof  during  his  childhood  and  youth,  and 
gained  a  good  insight  into  farming  and  business 
transactions.  He  began  early  in  life  to  lay  his 
plans  for  the  future,  and  when  twenty-two  years  of 
age  formed  domestic  ties  by  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Miller,  their  wedding  taking  place  Dec. 
20,  1883.  Mrs.  Green  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1864, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Shift- 


(Mihullem)  Miller,  of  German  descent  and  parentage. 
They  emigrated  from  the  Fatherland  in  the  spring  of 
I860,  and  two  years  later  took  up  their  abode  in 
Ashmore  Township,  where  the  father  of  Mrs.  Green 
engaged  in  farming  and  milling.  Their  children, 
six  in  number,  were  named  respectively,  Amel, 
Christian,  George,  Mary,  Emma  and  Lenora.  • 

The  one  child  of  Commodore  D.  and  Mary 
Green  is  a  daughter,  Belva,  who  was  born  Oct.  18, 
4884.  The  farm  of  Mr.  Green  is  stocked  with 
good  grades  of  horses  and  cattle,  and  everything 
about  the  place  is  neatly  kept  and  in  good  order. 
Politically,  he  follows  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father, 
giving  his  support  to  Republican  principles,  and  is 
a  rising  young  citizen  of  whom  the  community  ex- 
pects much  in  the  future. 


fif/  ESSE  K.  ELLIS,  located  on  section  7,  North 
Okavv  Township,  commenced  many  years 
ago  to  build  up  a  .homestead,  succeeded 
admirably  with  his  first  plans,  and  is  now 
spending  his  declining  years  in  ease  and  quiet,  the 
farm  being  carried  on  by  his  sons,  who  are  enter- 
prising and  industrious  men,  and  are  keeping  up 
its  reputation  as  did  their  father  before  them. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits,  and 
began  life  iu  Lincoln  County,  Tenn.,  on  the  20th  of 
February,  1817.  He  received  a  good  education  in 
the  common  schools,  talcing  readily  to  his  books, 
and  remained  a  member  of  his  father's  household 
until  twenty-three  years  of  age.  After  leaving 
home  he  traced  his  steps  to  this  county,  where  he 
commenced  working  by  the  month.  He  was  thus 
content  to  "  paddle  his  own  canoe,"  and  in  due 
time  received  from  his  father  a  deed  to  200  acres 
of  land,  which  is  now  included  in  the  Ellis  home- 
stead. Upon  this  he  operated  successfully  with  the 
result  already  indicated. 

When  iu  his  thirtieth  year  Jesse  K.  Ellis  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  Fuller,  the 
wedding  taking  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride  in 
North  Okaw  Township,  Aug.  20,  1846.  Mrs.  Ellis 
was  born  in  Russell  County,  Va..  Dec.  23,  1822, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Jennie  (Jesse) 
Fuller,  natives  of  South  Carolina.  They  emigrated 


I 

'4 


COLES   COUNTY. 


241 


to'Virginia  after  their  marriage  and  subsequently, 
in  the  fall  of  1834,  came  to  this  county  and  took 
up  their  residence  on  a- farm  in  North  Okaw  Town- 
ship, where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Mr.  Ellis  after  his  marriage  invested  his  surplus 
capital  in  additional  land,  which  he  divided  among 
his  children,  reserving  to  himself  the  home  farm  of 
120  acres.  This  is  highly  cultivated  and  supplied 
with  good  buildings,  neat  and  substantial  fences, 
and  all  the  farm  machinery  required  by  the  modern 
agriculturist. 

Mr.  Ellis  has  been  prominent  in  township  affairs, 
.and  in  the  fall  of  1 857  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  which  oflice,  with  the  exception  of  two  and 
one-half  years,  he  has  held  to  the  present  time. 
He  was  Collector  for  four  years  and  School  Treas- 
urer fifteen  years.  He  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren,  and  since  exercising 
the  right  of  suffrage,  has  been  an  uncompromising 
Democrat.  His  estimable  wife  is  a  highly  respected 
lady  and  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Separate  Baptist  Church.  The  ten  children  born 
to  this  worthy  pair  are  recorded  as  follows : 
James  W.,  born  May  2,  1847,  married  Miss  Helen 
Button  and  is  farming  in  N.  Okaw  Township;  Eliza- 
beth J.,  born  May  15,  1849,  is  the  wife  of  Jackson 
Hearn,  and  is  a  resident  of  Mattoon;  Henry  W., 
born  Jan.  27,  1851,  resides  with  his  parents; 
William,  born  Feb, -8,  1852,  married  Miss  Amanda 
Blythe,  and  is  employed  in  the  pottery  business  in 
Mattoon;  Samuel  F.,  born  Dec.  18.  1853,  is 
clerking  for  his  brother,  a  grocer  in  Mattoon; 
Stephen  D.,  born  Sept.  16,  1855.  married  Mi>s 
Rosa  J.  Fuller,  and  is  engaged  on  the  street  car 
line  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Mary  H.,  born  Sept.  16, 
1857,  is  the  wife  of  John  Votaw,  who  is  farming 
in  Osage  County,  Kan. ;  Willis  C.,  horn' Nov.  23, 
1859,  married  Miss  Katie  J.- Luce,  and  is  assisting 
in  the  management  of  the  farm;  David  J.,  born 
Dec.  25,  1861,  married  Miss  Amanda  Luce,  and  is 
living  at  Mattoon;  Nancy  I.,  born  May  10,  ISfii;, 
died  in  infancy. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  James 
Ellis  by  name,  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in 
New  Jersey.  It  is  certain  at  least  that  he  passed 
his  early  years  there  and  subsequently  removed  to 
Jefferson  County.  Tenn.,  and  afterward  to  Lincoln 


County,  which  is  now  a  part  of  Moore  County, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  was 
married  in  early  manhood  to  Miss  Sarah  Riggs, 
who  also  died  in  Tennessee.  Their  seven  children 
were  named  respectively,  Jesse,  William,  Hulda 
N.,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Delilah  and  James.  Delilah 
died  when  about  twenty  years  of  age,  but  the 
others  reached  years  of  maturity,  married  and 
reared  families  of  their  own.  All  are  now  deceased. 
Mary,  the  wife  of  James  Curry,  together  with  her 
husband,  died  in  this  county.  William  died  in 
Shelby  County,  this  State,  and  James  in  Tennessee. 
Grandfather  Ellis  became  a  large  land-owner  in 
Tennessee,  and  was  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of 
agriculture  his  entire  life. 

Jesse  Ellis,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Jefferson  County,  Tenn.,  in  1784.  He  received 
a  limited  education  and  remained  under  the  paren- 
tal roof  until  his.  marriage.  The  maiden  of  his 
choice  was  Miss  Jennie  Elliott,  a  native  of  his 
own  county,  and  who  became  his  wife  in  1804. 
She  was  born  in  October,  1782.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  continued  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson 
County  for  about  three  years,  and  then  Mr.  Ellis 
entered  a  tract  of  land  in  Lincoln  County,  upon 
which  he  operated  until  March,  1836.  He  then 
sold  out,  and  coming  North  entered  land  in  what 
was  Shelby  but  is  now  Moultrie  County,  111.,  and 
proceeded  with  its  improvement  and  cultivation 
until  the  fall  of  1853,  when  his  earthly  labors  ended. 
Mrs.  Jennie  Ellis  had  died  in  the  fall  of  1839. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  old-school  Baptist 
Church,  and  was  the  mother  of  the  following- 
named  children:  James,  John,  William,  Clisbe, 
Margaret,  Pleasant  M.,  Wiley  C..  Jesse  K.,  and 
Willis  H.  (deceased).  Of  this  family  but  three 
are  living. 

The  second  wife  of  Jesse  Ellis,  Sr.,  was  Mrs. 
Isabel  (Elliott)  Curry,  the  sister  of  his  first  wife. 
She  only  lived  about  three  years  after  her  marriage. 
I  Her  only  child  was  a  daughter  named  Sarah  Min- 
erva, now  the  wife  of  William  A.  Hendricks.  The 
third  wife  of  Mr.  Ellis  was  Mrs  Nancy  (Chowning) 
Owens.  She  died  in  1840,  and  he  was  then  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Maria  (Curry)  Bennett,  in  1S47.  Of 
this  marriage  there  were  born  five  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  There  are  living  two  sons 


T 


242 


COLES    COUNTY. 


and  a  daughter,  namely,  Joseph  B.,  married,  and  a 
practicing  physician  in  Carbondale,  Kan.;  Mary 
A.,  a  resident  of  Tennessee,  and  Nathan  C.,  whojs 
married  and  farming  in  North  Okaw  Township,' this 
county. 


ARTIN  FLENNER,  a  well-known  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Ashmore  Town- 
ship, has  a  good  farm  of  200  acres  on  sec- 
tion 28,  and  is  one  of  the  important  fac- 
tors in  the  agricultural  interests  of  Central  Illi- 
nois. He  comes  of  an  excellent  family,  being  the 
youngest  son  of  Isaac  and  Hopy  A.  (Holl ings- 
worth)  Flenner.  Isaac  Flenner  was  born  in  Butler 
County,  Feb.  25,  1825,  and  was  the  son  of  Daniel 
and  Hannah  (Andrews)  Flenner,  natives  respect- 
ively of  Maryland  and  Ohio,  the  latter  a  descend- 
ant of  an  old  Pennsylvania  family.  Daniel  Flen- 
ner emigrated  from  his  native  State  to  Ohio  in 
ISO!),  during  its  early  settlement.  He  served  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  was  a  prominent  citizen, 
holding  many  offices  of  trust  in  his  county. 

Isaac  Flenner  was  reared  in  his  native  State,  and 
came  to  Central  Illinois  in  1856,  his  father  also 
coming  to  Clark  County  at  the  same  time.  The 
former  purchased  200  acres  of  land  and  engaged 
quite  extensively  in  farming  and  stock-raising, 
making  a  specialty  of  thoroughbred  Short-horn  cat- 
tle and  Berkshire  hogs.  He  built  up  one  of  the 
finest  homesteads  in  Coles  Comity,  and  being  a  man 
of  rare  intelligence  and  cultivated  tastes,  erected  a 
beautiful  residence  and  surrounded  it  with  evergreen 
shrubbery  and  other  choice  trees.  In  the  rear  was 
one  of  the  finest  fruit  orchards  in  that  section  and 
the  homestead,  standing  upon  a  rise  of  ground,  com^ 
manded  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country. 
After  a  life  of  usefulness  and  honor,  during  which 
by  his  upright  course  and  kindly  disposition  he  had 
made  hosts  of  friends,  Isaac  Flenner  was  gathered 
home  to  his  fathers  on  the  6th  of  June,  1886, 
mourned  by  his  family  and  the  entire  community. 
He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  contributed  liberal!}-  and  cheer- 
fully to  every  enterprise  calculated  for  the  moral 


and  intellectual  advancement  of  the  people  alxjut 
him. 

Isaac  Flenner  was  first  married,  Sept.  30,  1847, 
to  Miss  Rachel  A.  Hughes,  who  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  but  removed  with  her  parents  in  early 
childhood  to  Butler  County,  Ohio.  Of  her  union 
with  Isaac  Flenner  there  were  born  two  children,  of 
whom  only  one,  Albert  W.,  is  living.  This  lady 
died  in  1852,  in  Ohio.  The  second  wife  of  Mr. 
Flenner  was  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  was  married 
to  him  on  the  12th  of  January,  1858.  The  one 
child  of  this  union  was  Martin,  of  our  sketch.  Mrs. 
Flenner  is  still  living  and  continues  on  the  home- 
stead which  is  now  managed  by  her  son,  our  subject. 
The  remains  of  Isaac  Flenner  were  laid  to  rest  in 
the  cemetery  at  Ashmore,  and  a  fine  monument 
erected  by  his  wife  and  son  marks  the  spot  where 
rests  all  that  is  mortal  of  the  kind  husband  and 
father,  and  the  man  who  in  all  the  walks  of  life  was 
faithful  to  his  duties.  Mr.  V.  was  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, politically,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  Vice 
President  of  Coles  County  Agricultural  Association. 

Martin  Flenner  was  born  on  the  homestead  which 
he  now  occupies,  Jan.  27,  1859.  He  received  a 
good  education,  and  earl}'  in  life  was  made  ac- 
quainted with  th§  various  employments  of  the  farm, 
being  an  apt  scholar  under  the  excellent  instruction 
of  his  father.  Since  the  death  of  the  latter  he  has 
kept  up  the  reputation  of  the  estate  in  a  worthy 
manner,  and  for  years  has  cheerfully  labored  with 
his  parents  to  build  uf>  and  beautify  the  homestead. 
He  has  been  the  worthy  son  of  most  excellent  par- 
ents, and  has  profited  well  from  his  early  teachings 
and  the  example  so  constantly  set  before  him. 


ffi  OHN  G.  CRAWFORD,  formerly  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  East  Oakland 
Township,  is  spending  his  latter  days  in  ease 
and  retirement  in  the  village,  where  he  has 
a  fine  residence  and  two  acres  of  land,  and  is  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He  has  been 
a  resident  of  this  county  since  I860,  and  has  nearly 
all  his  life  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  His 
property  includes  his  home  in  Oakland  and  700  acres 


COLES   COUNTY. 


2-13 


of  valuable  land  in  the  .township,  the  hitter  compris- 
ing- a  fine  farm  which  is  now  operated  by  tenants, 
and  from  which  the  owner  receives  a  handsome  in- 
come.' lie  is  a  fine  representative  of  the  thrifty  and 
prosperous  element  of  Central  Illinois,  and  lias 
contributed  his  full  share  toward  bringing  it  to  its 
present  condition. 

The  early  home  of  our  subject  was  in  Martins- 
ville,  Ind.,  where  his  birth  took  place  on  the  farm 
of  his  father,  James  Crawford,  Aug.  10,  1837.  His 
mother,  Delilah  (Gray)  Crawford,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was  born  June  10,  1802,  and  is  still  living, 
being  eighty-five  years  of  age.  James  Crawford 
was  born  Jan.  IS,  171)8,  on  the  James  River  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  departed  this  life  at  his  home  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Ind.,  on  the  12th  of  April,  1872. 
The  parents  were  married  in  the  latter-named 
county  in  1822,  and  early  in  life  became  members 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which 
the  father  was  an  Elder  at  Marti nsvi lie  for  many 
years.  He  was  a  man  ol  intelligence  and  exerted 
much  influence  in  the  local  and  political  affairs  of 
his  adopted  State.  He  was  identified  with  the  Whig 
party  until  it  was  abandoned,  and  then  cordially 
endorsed  the  principles  of  the  Republicans. 

The  children  of  James  and  Delilah  Crawford  are 
as  follows:  William,  who  married  Miss  Sophia  Day, 
died  a  year  later  at  his  home  in  Martinsville,  Ind. ; 
George  and  James  A.  are  also  deceased ;  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  William  R.  Harrison,  and  Sarah  A.,  the 
wife  of  George  W.  Cramer,  both  residents  of  Mar- 
tinsville, Ind. ;  Joseph  B.  and  Robert  H.  are  de- 
ceased. The  latter  during  the  late  war  enlisted  in 
the  72d  Indiana  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  two 
years  and  until  the  close,  and  afterward  enlisted  in 
the  United  States  Regulars.  His  regiment  was 
stationed  at  Monroe,  La.,  where  he  died  in  August, 
1868. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  after  the  manner  of  most  country  boys,, 
and  after  reaching  his  majority  and  laying  his  plans 
for  the  future,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mis.- 
Virginia  Valodin,  the  wedding  taking  place  in  Ports- 
mouth, Ohio,  on  the  10th  of  January,  1806.  This 
lady  was  born  in  ?sTew  Madrid.  Mo.,  Nov.  2,  1838, 
and  died  at  the  home  of  her  husband  in  Oakland 
Township,  July  30,  1882,  after  being  ill  with  con- 


sumption one  year.  Her  two  children,  were  John 
F.,  born  Aug.  9,  1874,  and  Roscoe  V.,  Aug.  11, 
1881.  Mrs.  Crawford  was  a  lady  of  deep  piety,  and 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  when 
a  young  girl  fourteen  years  of  age.  Her  parents 
were  Frank  and  Temperance  (Burt)  Valodin,  the 
former  a  native  of  Paris,  France.  The  mother  was 
born  in  Ohio  and  both  were  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  V.  died  in  New 
Orleans  in  the  spring  of  1839. 

Mr.  Crawford  came  first  to  Illinois  in  1 860,  and 
purchased  land  in  Sergeant  Township,  Douglas 
County,  where  he  carried  on  farming  eight  years, 
and  thence  removed- to  this  county.  He  was  re- 
markably successful  in  his  agricultural  operations, 
and  devoted  much  attention  to  the  raising  of  fine 
stock.  He  identified  himself  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity in  1872,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  1870,  and  politically  is  a  Republican  of 
the  first  water.  During  the  war  he  was  the  stanch 
enemy  of  rebellion  and  secession,  and  although  not 
actively  engaged  in  the  field,  contributed  of  his 
means  and  influence  to  the  encouragement  of  the 
Union  sentiment.  He  served  as  Supervisor  of  Oak- 
laud  Township,  and  has  in  all  respects  fulfilled  tile 
obligations  of  a  good  man  and  worthy  citizen. 

ENRIE  CHAMBERS,  a  gentleman  in  the 
prime  of  life  and  in  the  midst  of  his  useful- 
ness, is  numbered  among  the  worthy  resi- 
dents of  Morgan  Township,  where  he  has 
built  up  a  good  homestead  on  sec.  19,  and  has  fully 
kept  pace  with  his  neighbors  in  thrift  and  enter- 
prise, tilling  the  soil  and  marketing  annually  some 
of  the  choicest  products  of  the  Prairie  State.  Our 
subject  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  this 
county,  having  been  born  and  reared  in  Charleston. 
His  birth  took  place  Sept.  16,  1842.  His  parents, 
Thomas  G.  and  Olivia  (Monroe)  Chambers,  came 
to  Central  Illinois  in  1838,  and  for  nearly  fifty 
years  have  watched  with  interest  and  satisfaction 
the  development  and  growth  of  the  Prairie  State. 
They  experienced  all  the  hardships  and  vicissitudes 
of  pioneer  life  and  have  reaped  their  reward  in  the 


I 


244 


COLES   COUNTY. 


accumulation  of  a  competency  and  the  profound 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  them.  They 
are  residing  in  Charleston.  • 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Ky.,  Jan.  '2'2,  181 G.  and  is  the  son  of  James 
and  Sallie  (Rankin)  Chambers,  who  descended  re- 
spectively from  Irish  and  Scottish  ancestry.  He 
emigrated  from  his  native  State  in  about  1838,  and 
after  locating  in  Charleston,  this  county,  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Monroe,  March  12,  1840.  Of  this 
union  there  were  born  eleven  children :  Alice,  the 
eldest,  is  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Parker,  a  farmer  of 
Charleston  Township;  Henrie,  of  our  sketch,  is  the 
second  child;  John  was  married  and  died  in  about 
1869;  Lucy  died  in  infancy;  Belle  is  the  wife  of 
D.  II.  Calvert,  a  druggist  of  Charleston,  and  they 
have  one  child  ;  George  R.  is  a  merchant  at  Charles- 
ton, and  the  father  of  three  children ;  Maggie  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Rickets,  who  is  employed  in  the 
Census  Department  at  Washington,  D.  C.;  Nannie 
married  W.  E.  Hill,  who  is  engaged  in  the  grocery 
trade  at  Charleston;  William  M.  is  a  resident  of  the 
latter-named  place;  Alfred  is  study  ing  law;  Thomas 
G.  died  in  1874. 

Our  subject  spent  his  childhood  and  youth  under 
the  parental  roof,  pursuing  his  primary  studies  in 
the  schools  of  Charleston,  and  completed  his  edu- 
cation at  Jacksonville,  111.  The  next  important 
step  in  his  life  was  his  marriage,  Dec.  31,  1867, 
with  Miss  Clara  R.  Conditt,  the  adopted  daughter 
of  Mrs.  M.  G.  Braddock,  formerly  of  Charleston, 
but  now  of  Humbolt  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chambers  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
namely:  Edwin,  born  Nov.  19,  1868.  and  now  at 
home  with  his  parents;  Mary  E.,  born  June  12, 
1871,  and  who  died  Feb.  25.  1872;  Francis  B.,  born 
Nov.  3,  1872,  and  died  July  25,  1874;  Olivia  B., 
born  Dec.  5,  1874,  at  home  with  her  parents;  Nan- 
nie May,  born  June  21, 1877,  and  Ralph  M.,  Jan.  1, 
1880. 

In  1872  Mr.  Chambersjnirchased  100  acres  of 
his  present  farm,  and  afterward  added  twenty  acres. 
He  is  engaged  to  a  considerable  extent  in  the 
breeding  of  graded  stock,  including  Clydesdale 
horses  and  Durham  cattle,  and  he  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming.  He  built  his  present  residence  in 
about  1874.  The  house  which  first  stood  on  the 


place  was  burned  in  1874,  together  with  most  of 
its  contents.  Our  subject  and  the  various  members 
of  his  family  are  connected  with  Salem  Baptist 
Church,  of  which  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member  for 
the  last  twelve  years,  and  his  estimable  wife  for 
twenty-three  years.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the 
Coles  County  Agricultural  Fair  Grounds,  and  has 
been  identified  with  many  of  the  enterprises  calcu- 
lated to  advance  the  prosperity  of  the  county. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Chambers  fulfilled 
faithfully  the  duties  of  a  loyal  citizen  by  proffering 
his  services  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  en- 
listing in  Co.  C,  54th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  the  fall  of 
1861,  and  enduring  the  vicissitudes  of  a  soldier's 
life  for  a  space  of  three  years  and  eleven  months. 
He  marched  by  the  side  of  his  comrades  over  the 
greater  part  of  the  South,  and  met  the  enemy  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  at  the  capture  of  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  and  in  many  other  important  battles  of 
the  war.  He  went  out  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Harris  and  came  back  with  the  troops  of  Col. 
Mitchell,  now  Warden  of  the  State  Penitentiary  at 
Chester. 


OHN  W.  GWIN,  the  proprietor  of  a  good 
farm  on  section  31,  Hutton  Township,  has 
been  favorably  known  to  the  people  of  this 
locality  since  the  spring  of  1877.  He  then 
commenced  as  a  young  man  to  build  up  his  present 
homestead,  in  which  he  has  succeeded  admirably, 
and  is  also  carrying  on  a  good  business  at  black- 
smithing  in  the  shop  erected  on  his  land.  He  has 
a  fine  family,  a  comfortable  home,  and  enjoys  the 
esteem  and  respect  of  his  neighbors. 

Our  subject  spent  his  early  3'ears  in  Highland 
County,  Va.,  where  his  birth  took  place  Aug.  7, 
1853.  His  parents,  John  and  Margaret  (Friel) 
Gwin,  were  natives  of  Bath  County,  Va.,  and  after 
their  marriage  continued  on  a  farm  in  their  native 
State  until  1871,  when  they  removed  with  their 
family  to  this  county  and  located  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship, where  they  have  since  resided.  The  parental 
household  included  nine  children:  Rhoda  A.,  now 
deceased  ;  Charles  II.,  John  W.  ;  Luella  S.,  deceased  ; 
James,  George  II.,  Warwick  II.,  Nannie  J.  and 


f 


COLES   COUNTY. 


247 


Elizabeth  I.  With  the  exception  of  the  youngest 
daughter  :ill  married  and  had  families. 

John  W.  Gwin  during  his  youth  and  childhood 
attended  the  subscription  schools  of  his  native 
county,  and  when  a  youth  of  seventeen  migrated 
northwest,  and  coining  to  this  county  engaged  on 
a  farm  by  the  month  and  afterward  rented  land,  in 
the  meantime  saving  what  he  could  of  his  earnings 
until  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  eighty  acres  on 
section  1.  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  married, 
Oct.  15,  1871,  to  Miss  Martha  I.,  daughter  of 
Redick  and  .Susan  (Parker)  Cartwright,  who  was 
born  in  Coles  County,  March  1,  1854.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  her  mother  of 
Illinois.  The  latter  is  still  living,  but  the  former 
is  deceased.  Mr.  Gwin  after  his  marriage  operated 
the  farm  of  his  father-in-law  until  1877.  Of  his 
union  with  Miss  Cartwright  there  have  been  six 
children,  namely,  Sarah  A.,  who  was  born  July  30, 
1873,  and  died  August  24  of  the  same  year; 
Eddie  O.,  born  Jan.  25,  1875,  and  died  Sept.  7, 
1878;  Mary  L.,  born  Jan.  14,  1876;  Pleasant  E., 
burn  April  13,  1878,  and  died  Sept.  3,  1879;Zoa 
Aner  was  born  Jan.  20,  1880,  and  Smith  E.,  May 
24,  1883.  Mr.  Gwin  has  served  as  Constable  of 
his  township  three  years,  and  belongs  to  the  I.  O. 
R.  M.,  Minneliaha  Tribe  No.  19,  at  Ashrnore. 
Mrs.  Gwin  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  uur  subject,  Robert 
(<win  by  name,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he 
remained  during  his  childhood  and  youth,  and 
where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Lookridge, 
also  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Their  eight 
children  were  Joseph,  Andrew;  Samuel,  the  only 
one  surviving;  Robert,  Jane,  Margaret,  Molly  and 
William.  His  first  wife  died  in  middle  life,  and  he 
was  then  married  to  Miss  Betsey  McCraig,  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  became  the  mother  of  six  children, 
namely,  Sarah,  Renwick,  Catherine,  David,  Black- 
burn and  John.  The  youngest  son  and  David  are 
the  only  children  living  of  this  marriage.  Grand- 
father Gwin  died  in  Virginia  in  about  1840.  His 
last  wife  survived  him  several  years. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  the  youngest  child 
of  his  father's  second  marriage,  and  was  born  in 
Bath  County,  which  is  now  a  part  of  Highland 


County,  Va.,  Ma}'  1,  1827.  He  was  bred  to  farm 
life  and  received  a  limited  education.  After  the 
death  of  his  father  he  remained  on  the  homestead 
with  his  mother  during  her  lifetime,  both  parents 
having,  died  before  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 
Soon  after  reaching  his  majority  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  Eriel,  the  wedding 
taking  place  Dec.  14,  1848.  Mrs.  Gwin  was  a 
native  of  the  same  county  as  her  husband,  and  was 
born  Nov.  16,  1826.  Her  parents,  William  and 
Jane  (Stewart)  Eriel,  were  also  natives  of  Bath 
County.  Her  father  died  in  1843,  when  fifty-seven 
years  of  age,  and  the  mother,  who  was  born  Jan.  1 , 
1796,  survived  him  for  a  period  of  thirty-three 
years,  her  death  taking  place  in  Upshnr  County, 
W.  Va.,  March  16,  1876.  John  Gwin  after  his 
marriage  continued  farming  in  his  native  State  un- 
til becoming  a  resident  of  Putnam  Township,  this 
county,  to  which  he  removed  in  1871.  Here  he 
has  carried  on  agriculture  successfully  and  is  num- 
bered among  the  highly  respected  citizens  of  Coles 
County. 

The  father  of  Mrs-.  Gwin  of  our  sketch,  was  born 
in  South  Carolina,  Sept.  25,  1793,  and  was  three 
times  married.  His  last  wife  was  formerly  Miss 
Susan  Parker,  a  native  of  this  State,  born  Jan.  1, 
1823.  She  is  still  a  widow,  and  lives  with  her 
brother,  John  Parker,  in  North  Okaw  Township. 
Of  her  union  with  Redick  Cartwright  there  were 
born  six  children,  namely,  Rachel  H.,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Martha  I.,  the  wife  of  our  subject;  Ed- 
mund, a  resident  of  North  Okaw  Township;  Willis 
B.,  Amanda  M.  and  Maudilla.  The  three  youngest 
died  in  infancy. 


TERLING  P.  CURTIS,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Curtis  &  Reel,  who  are  success - 
I.  fully  engaged  in  general  merchandising  at 
Oakland,  is  well  known  to  people  of  the 
village,  as  he  has  lived  here  all  his  life,  and  this  also 
was  his  birthplace.  He  was  born  June  19,  1858, 
and  is  the  son  of  Philander  and  Elizabeth  (Mod- 
rell)  Curtis,  natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and  Ken- 
tucky. Philander  Curtis  was  born  in  Somerset 
County  in  October,  1825,  came  to  Illinois  when  a 


t 


f 


248 


COLES   COFNTY. 


small  hoy  and  resided  in  Coles  County  :  he  followed 
fanning  nearly  all  his  life.  He  was  a  good  man  in 
even  sense  of  tlif  word,  and  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Although 
quiet  and  unobtrusive  in  his  life,  mixing  but  little 
in  public  matters,  he  uniformly  voted  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  was  a  stanch  believer  in  its 
principles.  He  served  in  the  Civil  War,  and  after 
that  spent  his  declining  years  in  Oakland,  this  State. 
and  rested  from  his  earthly  labors  in  February, 
1879. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  Sept.  12, 
IM'.'i.  the  same  year  as  her  husband,  and  died  in 
.Inly,  1*711,  six  months  after  his  decease.  She  also 
was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Of  their  six  children  the  record  is  as  fol- 
lows: Carlos  C.  married  Miss  Abigail  Fickett,  and 
is  a  resident  of  Wellington,  Kan.;  Belle  J.  is  the 
wife  of  A.  N.  Chapman,  of  Oakland:  Catherine 
married  E.  C'.  Brown,  of  Tuscola.  111.,  who  died 
leaving  two  children:  her  second  husband  was  E. 
A.  1'earce,  and  thev  reside  in  Lamont,  111.  Orcelia 
was  married  in  Iowa  to  John  Glasburuer,  who  died 
leaving  one  child,  and  she  then  married  Dr.  Elmer 
Booth,  of  Waynetown,  Incl. ;  Walter  A.  married 
.Miss  Estella  Strange,  and  lives  in  Oakland,  111.; 
Sterling  P..  of  our  sketch,  married  Miss  Susan 
Taber.  in  August,  1879. 

Mr.  Curtis  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  worked  on  the  farm  part  of  the  time  until  four- 
teen years  of  age.  He  then  began  clerking  in  a 
store,  and  was  variously  employed  until  1881,  when 
he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Lippincott  & 
Curtis,  which  continued  until  January.  ls*(l.  and 
our  subject  then  became  associated  with  Mr.  Reel. 

The  firm  of  Curtis  <k  Reel  carries  a  stock  of  dry- 
goods,  boots  and  shoes,  and  everything  pertaining 
to  the  needs  of  a  family  either  in  the  town  or 
country.  The}'  occupy  two  large  storerooms,  a 
part  of  which  is  devoted  to  drugs  and  groceries, 
and  probably  transact  the  largest  amount  of  busi- 
nc»s  of  any  tirm  of  the  kind  in  the  county,  their 
sales  averaging  annually  about  $50, 000.  They  are 
live  business  men.  and  valued  members  of  the  com- 
munity. Contributing  their  full  share  toward  its 
trade  interest*  and  its  progress  and  advancement 
morally  and  intellectually. 


The  wife  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Edgar 
County,  in  March.  1  S."»S.  and  is  the  daughter  of 
James  C.  and  Hester  A.  (.Norton)  Taber.  natives 
respect! velv  of  Indiana.  Of  her  marriage  with 
Mr.  Curtis  there  has  been  one  child,  a  sou.  Herbert, 
who  was  born  in  March,  issl.  ami  died  in  July 
following.  Mr.  Curtis  is  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing <>f  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  has 
taken  much  interest  in  Sunday-school  work,  having 
officiated  as  Superintendent  for  some  years.  He 
has  also  served  as  Alderman,  and  upon  becoming 
of  suitable  age  identified  himself  decidedly  with 
the  Republican  parly.  He  is  one  of  the  valued  and 
enterprising  young  citizens  of  Oakland,  from  whom 
much  is  expected  in  the  future. 


LEXANDER  TINCH.  This  self-made  man 
and  independent  agriculturist  of  Hum  bolt 
Township,  is  the  possessor  of  a  snug  farm 
of  seventy-nine  acres  under  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation,  with  good  buildings  and  all  the  appur- 
tenances of  a  first-class  country  estate.  He  com- 
menced life  in  a  humble  manner,  receiving  his 
education  in  a  log  school-house  in  Tennessee,  and 
by  the  exercise  alone  of  his  own  industry  and -reso- 
lution, has  attained  to  a  good  position,  socially  and 
financially,  among  his  fellow-men. 

Mr.  Tiuch  first  drew  breath  near  the  city  of 
Knoxville,  Tenn.,  on  the  ICth  of  February.  l*'2.~>. 
It  is  hardly  r.eces>ary  to  state  that  Knoxville.  sixty 
years  ago.  was  scarcely  to  be  compared  with  the 
present  town,  which  has  shice  gained  a  national 
reputation.  The  parents  of  our  subject,  George 
and  Mary  (Norman)  Tiuch,  were  natives  respect- 
ively ot  Virginia  and  South  Carolina.  They  spent 
the  greater  part  of  their  lives  in  Tennessee.  They 
are  now  deceased  and  buried  near  Kuoxville. 

Mr.  Tinch  remained  a  resident  of  his  native 
State  until  180-J.  in  the  meantime  having  been 
married,  and  then  removed  North  to  Indiana. 
Three  years  later  he  came  to  this  county,  and  (irst 
purchased  forty  acres  of  laud,  which  is  included  in 
his  present  homestead.  To  this  -he  afterward 
added  thirty-nine  acres,  and  has  carefully  culti- 
\ated  the  entire  area,  utili/.ing  every  rod  and  sut- 


*-• 


t 


Cdl.KS    COUNTY. 


249 


fi-ring  untiling  to  go  t"  waste.  Hi-  -tuck  and 
machinery  are  of  tirst-elass  description  and  well 
cured  for.  and  the  farm  in  till  its  departments  incli- 
CateS  tin-  thrift  :tnd  industry  of  it-  pioprietor. 

The  first  wife  of  our  Miliject  was  in  her  girlhood 
Mi--  Isabel  Davis,  to  whom  lie  was  married  in 
Tennessee  in  earlv  manhood,  and  who  became  the 
motlier  of  six  children,  namely,  Josiah  A.,  Richard, 
Levi,  Asia,  Chesle}-  and  Erie.  Mrs.  Isabel  Tinch 
departed  this  life  Feb.  2C.  isiil.  Mr.  Tinch  was 
the  second  time  married,  June  1,  1804,  to  Miss 
MartUa  .Jones,  of  Tennessee,  and  their  seven  chil- 
dren were :  Ettie,  burn  May  •>'.).  |sc,7:  Nancy. 
June  1<>.  isini;  .Julian,  Aug.  2!».  1X71  ;  Nettie,  Feb. 
23,  1873:  Rhoda.  .Ian.  21,  1875;  James.  June  17, 
l*7i'>:and  Kinma,  Oct.  1,  18*:!.  Ettie  was  married 
to  Allen  Bensley,  Dec.  l(i,  IKX.'i:  they  have  one 
ehilil  —  Franklin  Alexander,  who  was  born  .bin. 
30,  l-s>7. 

During  the  progress  of  the  late  war  Mr.  Tinch 
enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  in  Co.  K,  22d  Ind.   Vol. 
Inf.,  serving  one  vear   and   to  the    close.     He  is  a   j 
Republican  of  the  first   water,  and  never  had   any 
sympathy    with    rebels    or  secessionists.      Mr.    and    , 
Mr-.  T.  are  members  and  attendants  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 


JOHN  S.  GOOD  YEAR.  County  Clerk,  became 
a  resident  of  Charleston  in    1887,  and  has 
been   incumbent  of   his   present  oilice  since 
December,  1886.     His  hi-tory  is  one  of  re- 
markable interest,  illustrating  the  career  of  a  bright 
and  ambitions  tem[>erainent,  which  led  its  pos-e--or. 
early  in  life  to  attempt  that  which  many  older  men 
would  have  shrunk  from  as  impossible. 

Mr.  Goodyear  was  born  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis. 
Mo.,  June  27,  1844,  and  is  the  son  of  Antoine  and 
Catherine  A.  (Shibley)  Goodyear,  natives  respect- 
ivelv  of  France  and  Virginia.  Our  .-ubject,  being 
the  first  grandchild  of  John  and  HIi/.a  .shibley.  was 
taken  bv  them  at  an  early  age,  and  brought  to  this 
State,  where  he  wa-  reared  on  a  farm  and  received 

a    L' 1   education,    completing    hi-   studies    in   the 

academy  at  Winchester.      At  the   outbreak   of   the 
war.  in   I  sill,  he   was   one   of    the   first    to   offer    his 
i    services  in  behalf  of    the  I'liioii.    and    attempted    to 


enlist  in  the  I  1th  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  re- 
jected, however,  on  account  of  his  youth,  but,  man- 
aged to  follow  his  grandfather  who  was  a  sutler, 
and  whenever  there  wa-  any  prospect  of  a  battle 
young  John  would  sei/e  a  gun  and  go  out  with  the 
14th  into  battle,  where  he  was  permitted  to  do 
guard  duty  and  go  with  the  soldiers  foraging.  In 
this  manner  he  succeeded  in  being  present  at  the 
siege  and  capture  of  Vickshurg.  and  took  great 
pleasure  in  drawing  his  gun  on  the  enemy,  stand- 
ing guard  and  gathering  in  provisions.  His  grand- 
father finally  disposed  of  the  ship  which  hud  car- 
ried his  stores  as  a  sutler,  and  returned  home  in 
the  summer  of  1803. 

Our  subject,  however,  was  not  prepared  to  be- 
come a  civilian,  and  once  more  attempted  to  eu- 
list,  this  time  with  success,  becoming  a  member  of 
Co.  F,  33(1  III.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  March,  1HC4,  and  re- 
mained thereafter  in  service  until  the  close  of  tin- 
war.  He  formed  one  of  the  guard  posted  on  the 
route  from  New  Orleans  to  Brazier  City,  and  was 
afterward  at  the  capture  of  Spanish  Fort,  the  city 
of  Mobile, jFt.  Illakesley,  Montgomery,  and  Selma, 
Ala.  The  war  had  now  practically  ended,  and  our 
hero  proudly  marched  with  his  comrades  along  the 
streets  of  Springfield,  111.,  where  lie  was  paid  off 
and  received  his  honorable  discharge,  Dec.  7.  1865. 

Upon  returning  from  the  army  Mr.  Goodyear 
worked  at  the  tinner's  trade  in  Elkhart,  111.,  for 
about  six  months,  after  which  he  olliciated  as  clerk 
in  a  dry-goods  store  until  ISiI.x.  Soon  afterward 
he  crossed  the  Mississippi,  and  was  similarly  occu- 
pied in  a  store  at  Humboldt,  Kan.,  in  which  he 
subsequently  purchased  an  interest,  but  continued 
his  connection  with  the  business  only  about  eight 
months.  Afterward  he  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
books  and  stationery  until  1873,  then  came  hark  to 
Illinois,  locating  for  a  time  at  Winchester.  After 
another  trip  to  Kansas,  we  find  him  in  Columbus. 
Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  clerking  until  the 
spring  of  1*71.  and  then  returning  to  Winchester, 
taught  school  until  the  following  spring.  He 
clerked  awhile  at  .Mattoon.  and  then  purchased  a 
book-st'ire  with  which  he  occupied  him-elt  until 
his  election  to  his  present  otlice.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  served  as  City  Clerk  of  Mattoon  four  terms 
and  was  Town  Clerk  five  years.  He  represented 


*-»^H 


250 


COLES   COUNTY. 


the  township  in  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors 
one  year,  which  office,  with  that  of  City  Clerk,  he 
resigned  to  enter  upon  his  duties  as  County  Clerk. 
He  has  been  well  and  favorably  known  throughout 
the  county  for  many  years,  and  in  locating  in 
Charleston  only  took  up  his  residence  among  his 
old  friends. 

Mr.  Goodyear  was  married,  on  the  6th  of  No- 
vember, 1868,  to  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Einan- 
uel  and  Mary  Poston,  of  Ohio.  Of  this  union 
there  has  been  born  one  child,  a  daughter,  Maude 
K.  Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather  was  a  na- 
tive of  Amsterdam,  Holland,  where  his  birth  took 
place  April  18,  1796.  He  emigrated  to  America 
with  his  parents  at  an  early  age.  They  located  in 
New  York  City,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age 
their  son  removed  to  Charleston,  8.  C..  and  thence 
to  Churlottesville,  Va.,  where  he  married  Miss  Eliza 
Bacenstowe.  After  marriage,  they  located  at  Chil- 
licothe,  Ohio,  afterward  removing  to  Cincinnati, 
and  from  there  to  St.  Louis  in  April,  1833,  where 
they  remained  for  twelve  years  following. 

Mr.  Shibley  became  a  resident  of  Winchester, 
III.,  in  1847.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in 
1861,  he  went  as  a  sutler  with  the  14th  Illinois  In- 
fantry, until  the  following  jrear,  when  he  returned, 
and  moving  into  the  city,  practically  abandoned 
active  labor,  and  lived  retired  until  his  decease, 
Sept.  20,  1881.  His  wife,  the  grandmother  of  Mr. 
G.,  died  in  December,  1876. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Goodyear  died  at  the  resi- 
dence of  the  family  in  Winchester,  111.,  in  January, 
1887,  when  about  fifty-two-years  of  age.  Mr. 'and 
Mrs.  Goodyear  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Politically,  Mr.  G.  is  a  pronounced  Re- 
publican, and  socially  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  K. 
and  various  other  orders. 


J"jOHN    HILDRETH,    who    for  the    past  ten 
I    years  has  been   identified  with  the  farming 
I    interests  of  Charleston  Township,  occupies  a 
'    good  homestead  located  on  section  6.     He 
is  the  owner  of  400  broad  acres,  under  a   fine'  Mate 
of   cultivation,   stocked    with    excellent  grades  of 


domestic  animals  and  supplied  with  good  buildings 
and  all  the  other  appurtenances  of  a  first-class  coun- 
try estate. 

The  earlv  years  of  our  subject  were  spent  in  Suf- 
folk County,  L.  I.,  where  his  birth  took  place  Jan. 
ID,  18'23.  His  paternal  grandfather.  John  llildreth, 
was  a  sea  captain,  and  his  father,  Nathan  llildreth, 
also  followed  a  seafaring  life,  being  commander  of 
a  whaling-vessel  for  many  years.  The  mother  of 
our  subject,  who  in  her  girlhood  was  Miss  Katnra 
Payne,  was  also  born  in  Suffolk  County,  and  by 
her  marriage  with  Nathan  llildreth  became  the 
mother  of  six  children:  Maria,  the  wife  of  Watson 
Payne;  Henry  is  living  in  Wisconsin:  Phebe,  de- 
ceased ;  John,  of  our  sketch,  was  the  fourth  child : 
Albert,  a  sea  captain,  died  in  the  Sandwich  Islands; 
Ann  is  also  deceased. 

The  parents  of  John  Hildreth  died  when  he  was 
I  but  a  boy  and  he  was  left  dependent  upon  his  own 
;  resources.  He  possessed  much  of  his  father's  love 
of  the  water  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  em- 
barked as  a  sailor  and  for  five  years  crossed  to  and 
fro  over  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans  on  mer- 
chant and  whaling  vessels,  visiting  the  ports  of 
Japan  and  many  islands  in  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Af- 
ter attaining  his  majority  he  quit  the  sea  and  joined 
some  of  his  brothers  and  sisters  who  had  married 
and  located  in  Wayne  County,  N.  Y.  He  was 
afterward  engaged  at  farm  labor  for  a  time,  and 
finally  going  into  Onondaga  County,  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter,  which  he  followed  several 
years,  when  he  again  resumed  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1872  he  went  up  into  Green  Lake  County,  U'is., 
where  he  remained  most  of  the  time  until  1877. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  also  staid  considerably 
with  friends  in  this  county,  and  in  1877  settled 
here  permanently  upon  a  part  of  the  land  which 
he  now  occupies.  His  first  purchase  consisted  of 
185  acres,  and  he  industriously  cultivated  the  soil, 
adding  such  improvements  as  his  means  would 
allow  and  invested  his  surplus  capital  in  more  land. 
Of  late  years  he  has  been  remarkably  prosperous, 
and  is  numbered  among  the  wealthy  and  influential 
agriculturists  of  Central  Illinois. 

The  wife  of  our  subject,  who  has  been  his  close 
counselor  and  friend  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
was  in  her  girlhood  Mi*s  Cordelia  Amidon,  a 


COLES   COUNTY. 


251 


native  of  Onondaga,  N.  Y..  and  the  daughter  of 
Cheny  and  Polly  (Ruuels)  Aniidon.  Their  wed- 
ding took  place  in  the  spring  of  1854,  and  they 
went  to  housekeeping  on  the  farm  in  New  York. 
The  household  was  in  due  time  enlarged  liy  the 
birth  of  six  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  child- 
hood and  four  are  now  living.  The  latter  are: 
Lura,  the  wife  of  Charles  Gramslj;  Albert;  Fannie, 
the  wife  of  John  Snyder,  and  Henry.  Mr.  Hil- 
dreth  is  Republican  in  politics  and  in  all  respects 
is  fulfilling  the  obligations  of  a  good  citizen,  form- 
ing one  of  the  most  important  factors  in  the  agricult- 
ural interests  of  his  township. 


T 


,1.  MAN  ROE.  No  finer  farming 
country  is  to  be  found  in  the  Prairie  State 
than  much  of  that  in  the  northern  part  of 
Coles  County,  notably  in  North  Okaw 
Township.  Mr.  Manroe  for  the  last  twenty  years 
has  been  a  resident  of  that  township  and  owns  280 
acres  of  valuable  land  on  section  '21.  This  is  well 
improved,  thoroughly  drained  with  tile,  and  em- 
bellished with  a  handsome  frame  residence,  stand- 
ing in  the  midst  of  a  beautiful  grove,  and  forming 
one  of  the  attractive  features  of  that  locality. 
There  is  also  a  fine  orchard,  two  good  barns  and  all 
the  other  accessories  of  a  modern  country  home. 
In  addition  to  his  farming  interests  Mr.  Manroe  has 
also  given  much  attention  of  late  years  to  bee  cult- 
ure, keeping  on  an  average  about  150  stands  of 
Italians,  and  being  very  successful  in  his  operations 
in  this  line.  He  also  has  seven  ponds  stocked  with 
German  carp,  some  of  which  will  now  weigh  from 
three  to  four  pounds.  This  enterprise,  it  is  hardly 
necessary  to  state,  is  attracting  much  attention  and 
its  projector  is  sanguine  of  success. 

The  main  points  in  the  family  history  of  our 
subject  are  as  follows:  His  grandfather,  John 
Manroe,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  where  he  was 
married  in  early  manhood  and  became  a  minister 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Subsequently 
he  removed  to  C'lermont  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
resided  a  number  of  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Allen  County.  A  few  years  later  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Shelby  County,  hid.,  where  he  spent  the 


remainder  of  his  days.  His  wife,  Mary,  also  a 
native  of  his  own  State,  preceded  him  to  the  silent 
land.  They  had  reared  a  large  family  and  lived 
together  harmoniously  for  the  unprecedented  period 
of  sixty-five  years.  Among  their  sons  was  Samuel, 
who  became  the  father  of  our  subject.  He  was  the 
eldest  child  of  his  parents  and  was  born  in  Cumber- 
land County,  Md.,  in  1798.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  remained  a  resident  of  his 
native  county  u.itil  twenty-five  years  of  age.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  engaged  somewhat  in  surveyings 
and  after  removing  to  Rush  County,  Ind.,  learned 
the  trade  of  a  tanner,  which  he  followed  there  and  in 
Shelby  County  a  number  of  years.  He  was  there 
also  married,  in  1825,  to  Miss  Dorcas  Hay  man,  and 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days  in  Shelby 
County,  where  Mr.  Mauroe  had  several  years  pre- 
viously entered  a  tract  of  land  and  upon  which  he 
built  up  a  permanent  homestead.  He  rested  from 
his  earthly  labors  in  the  spring  of  1880.  The  wife 
and  mother  survived  five  years,  dying  in  1885. 
The  parental  household  included  eight  children. 

The  subject  of  this  history  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  worked 
with  his  father  in  the  tannery  until  reaching  his 
majority.  He  then  took  up. the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  about  ten  3rears  and  subse- 
quently, with  the  capital  thus  accumulated,  pur- 
chased land  in  Richland  County,  111.,  which  he 
occupied  with  his  family  twelve  years  and  u'ntil  the 
spring  of  18G6,  when  he  took  possession  of  his 
present  farm.  His  marriage  with  Miss  Julia  Hoff- 
man took  place  in  Shelby  County,  Ind.,  April  11, 
1849,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  two  children — 
Nathaniel,  who  married  Miss  Martha  Leggitt  and  is 
a  resident  of  Douglas  County,  111.,  and  Amanda 
J.,  the  wife  of  James  Moore,  of  Osage  County, 
Kan.  The  mother  of  these  children  departed  this 
life  in  1807,  the  second  year  of  their  removal  to 
this  county. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he 'was 
married  April  27,  1*69,  was  formerly  Miss  Mjiggie 
Kitchens,  a  native  of  Clark  County,  this  State,  and 
who  removed  with  her  parents  to  this  county  in 
1859.  Of  this  union  there  are  two  children — Mary 
E.,  born  July  21,  1871;  and  Alfred,  March  17, 
1877.  Air.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 


252 


COLES   COUNTY. 


copal  Church,  while  his  wife  is  connected  with  the 
Baptist.  Our  suhject  is  Republican  in  politics  and 
while  in  Richland  County  served  as  Assessor.  He 
lias  for  the  last  thirty  years  officiated  as  School 
Director  and  Trustee,  and  in  all  respects  has  been  a 
warm  supporter  of  those  measures  calculated  for 
the  welfare  of  the  community. 


J^OIIN  FOREMAN,  of  Seven  Hickory  Towu- 
|  ship,  and  a  native  of  the  District  of  Columbia^ 
I  early  in  life  emigrated  West  to  seek  his  for- 
'  tune  and  build  up  a  permanent  home.  His 
birth  took  place  March  17,  1823,  and  he  remained 
in  liis  native  township  until  eleven  or  twelve  years 
old,  when  his  parents  removed  to  Lexington,  Ky. 
His  father,  Joseph  Foreman,  a  native  of  England, 
was  born  in  July,  1797,  and  crossed  the  Atlantic 
in  1819.  He  was  first  married  in  his  native  land, 
the  lady  dying  and  leaving  no  children.  About 
two  years  after  coming  to  America  he  married  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  Miss  Chloe  Payne.  Of  this 
union  there  were  born  nine  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  eldest;  Catherine  was  born  in  1825 
and  died  in  infancy;  Julia  was  born  in  September, 
182li,  and  is  still  living  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  unmar- 
ried; Jane  B.,  born  in  July,  1828,  became  the  wife 
of  Hugh  L.  Webb,  a  printer  by  trade,  and  is 
living  in  Richmond,  Ind.,  having  become  the 
mother  of  three  children;  Catherine  (2d)  was  born 
in  1830,  and  became  the  wife  of  Henry  V.  Barrin- 
ger,  and  the  mother  of  two  children;  her  son  Earn- 
est A.  is  United  States  Pension  Agent  at  New  Or- 
leans, and  was  married  in  1886;  Johanna  was  born 
in  September,  1832,  and  married  James  Srugham, 
a  printer,  who  died  in  Lexington,  Ky. ;  they  had 
two  children,  both  now  deceased;  Mary,  born  in 
January,  1835,  married  Milton  G.  Thompson,  of 
Lexington.  Ky.,  who  is  a  banker  and  a  dealer  in 
hardware,  and  has  amassed  a  fortune;  they  have 
five  children;  James  died  in  infancy  in  the  fall  of 
1836;  Thomas,  born  in  September,  1838,  is  the 
partner  of  his  brother-in-law,  M.  G.  Thompson,  at 
Lexington;  he  married  Miss  Sax  ton,  who  died  not 
long  afterward,  and  he  then  married  Miss  Marsh, 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  who  tlied  in  1885;  by  the  first 


marriage  there  were  three  children,  and  two  by  the 
second,  ai^d  only  two  survive. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Jacob 
Payne,  was  a  native  of  Fairfax  County,  Va.,  and 
married  a  Miss  Glover,  by  whom  he  became  the 
father  of  seventeen  children,  of  whom  they  reared 
twelve.  He  was  the  son  of  Henson  Payne,  also  of 
the  Old  Dominion.  His  grandfather  Foreman,  to- 
gether with  two  uncles,  were  soldiers  under  the 
great  Napoleon,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Waterloo.  Joseph  Foreman,  while  a  resident  of 
the  District  of  Columbia,  engaged  extensively  as  a 
farmer  and  gardener,  being  especially  fond  of  hor- 
ticulture. After  removing  to  Kentucky  he  fol- 
lowed the  same  business. 

John  Foreman,  our  subject,  was  married,  Oct.  10, 

1842,  to  Miss  Harriet  E.   Richardson,  a   native   of 
Franklin  County,  Ohio,  where  she  grew  to  woman- 
hood, remaining  a  member  of  her  father's  house- 
hold.    The   latter  then  decided  to  take  up  his  resi- 
dence   in    Kentucky,   and   after  her  marriage  with 
John    Foreman   they    remained    in  the  Blue  Grass 
regions  until  the  fall  of   1853.     They  then  decided 
to  seek  the  Prairie  State,  and  coming  to  this  county 
located  at  Charleston,  while  Mr.  F.  proceeded  with 
the  cultivation  of  a  tract  of  land  which  his  father- 
in-law    had  entered   in  Seven   Hickory  Township. 
This  included  200  acres,  and  he  proceeded  indus- 
triously    with    its    cultivation    and    improvement, 
turning  his  attention  largely,  as  before,  to  the  rais- 
ing of  fine  fruits.     He  fenced  the  land,  put  up  good 
buildings  and  established  a  comfortable  homestead. 

He  became  the  father  of  seven  children,  of  whom 
the  record  is  as  follows :  William  T.,  born  Dee.  30, 

1843,  married  Miss  Jane  McNutt,  who  died  in  Au- 
gust, 1881;  of  this  marriage  there  were  eight  chil- 
dren,  five   of  whom   are  living:  John  R.  was  born 
in  November,   1845,    and    married    Miss    Minerva 
Nichols,  of  Coles  County;  they  have  three  children. 
Joseph    married    Miss    Cynthia    Buckley,    of    this 
county,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship;  I.   P.    born    Jan.    16,    1852,    married    Laura 
OTIair;   David   B.,  born    in  Charleston,  March  1 1, 
1853,  married  Miss  Sella   Shriver,   and   they   have 
two    children;   Thomas,    born   in   February,    1862, 
died  at  his  father's  house  in  September,   1880;   Ed- 
ward P.,  born  May  8,  1X60,  is  unmarried   and    liv- 


f 


t. 


COLES    COUNTY. 


253 


ing  at  home.  ,  Mrs.  Harriet  Foreman  departed  this 
life  at  the  homestead  in  February,  1881.  She  was 
a  lady  greatly  respected  for  her  sterling  worth  of 
character,  and  a  member  in  good  standing  6f  the 
Baptist  Church  of  Charleston. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  the  first  Justice  of 
the  Peace  elected  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  and 
in  1 865  represented  the  township  in  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors.  He  has  served  as  Road 
Commissioner  and  School  Trustee,  and  was  elected 
a  Director  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  Dis- 
trict No.  2.  He  has  always  been  interested  in 
those  measures  calculated  for  the  advancement  of 
the  people,  and  has  fulfilled  his  duties  in  life  in  an 
honest  and  highly  creditable  manner.  His  prop- 
erty includes  100  acres  of  good  land  on  section  16, 
Seven  Hickory  Township,  and  twenty  acres  of 
timber. 


WILLIAM  H.  GALBREATH,  SK.,  one  of  the 

honored  pioneers  of  Ashmore  Township, 
came  to  Coles  County  in  March.  1831, 
locating  on  section  23,  which  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  has  resided  fifty-six  years  in  this  town- 
ship, and  during  the  long  period  of  resilience  in 
this  county  has  identified  himself  with  the  in- 
terests of  its  people.  His  kindly  Christian  char- 
acter commended  him  to  their  respect  and  esteem 
long  years  ago,  and  his  straightforward  method  of 
doing  business  has  placed  him  among  the  represent- 
ative citizens  of  Central  Illinois. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Nichols  County,  Ky., 
Aug.  17,  1809,  and  is  a  descendant  of  excellent 
Scotch-I.isli  ancestry.  His  parents,  William  and 
Phebe  (Foreman)  Galbreath,  were  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  father  served  as  Captain  of 
a  pack-horse  company  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
for  a  period  of  seven  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
guards  placed  over  Cornwallis  at  Valley  Forge  and 
most  of  the  time  was  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Washington.  In  consequence  of 
the  exposure  and  hardships  which  he  endured,  he 
contracted  a  disease  from  which  he  never  fully 
recovered,  but  lived,  however,  to  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-three  years.  After  the  independence 
of  the  Colonists  had  been  established,  he  retired  to 


the  rural  districts  of  Berks  County,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  where  his  death  took  place 
in  1833.  William  Galbreath,  Sr.,  was  married  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia  in  about  179(5,  his  wife 
being  but  sixteen  years  of  age.  She  was  born  in 
1781,  and  reared  in  the  Quaker  City,  was  of  ex- 
cellent Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and  with  her  husband 
was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Her 
death  took  place  in  Coles  County,  in  1849.  The 
children  of  William  and  Phebe  Galbreath  were 
named  respectively,  Fannie,  John,  Mary  A.,  Sarah, 
Phebe,  William,  Robert,  James,  John  and  William. 
The  two  latter  died  in  infancy. 

William  H.  Galbreath  was  born  in  Berks  County, 
Pa.,  and  received  a  common-school  education  in 
the  Keystone  State.  Early  in  life  he  began  to 
make  himself  useful  around  his  father's  homestead 
and  as  soon  as  possible  went  into  the  cornfield  and 
held  the  plow.  He  removed  to  Kentucky  and  not 
long  afterward  to  Indiana,  whence  in  1829  he  came 
to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  engaged  in  farming,  and 
two  years  later  came  to  this  county  where  he 
established  his  permanent  home. 

Among  the  other  important  arrangements  which 
Mr.  Galbreath  was  perfecting,  in  order  to  complete 
the  outfit  of  his  future  abode,  was  the  securing 
unto  himself  a  wife  and  helpmeet,  to  assist  him  in 
his  dilficulties  and  rejoice  with  him  in  his  pros- 
perity. The  maiden  whom  he  had  chosen  for  this 
important  position  was  Miss  Louisa  Lashbrooks,  to 
whom  he  was  married  at  her  home  in  Scott  County, 
Ind.,  Nov  4,  1830.  This  wedding  was  one  of  the 
notable  events  of  that  section,  as  were  all  weddings 
and  births  at  that  period,  when  life  flowed  on  in  an 
uneventful  manner  and  there  was  little  to  amuse 
the  settlers  besides  their  own  private  and  personal 
affairs.  Mrs.  Galbreath  was  born  in  Spencer 
County,  Ky.,  June  14.  1-S1  1,  and  like  her  husband 
wa&  of  Scotch-Irish  blood.  She  came  from  an  ex- 
cellent family,  her  mother  having  been  Miss 
Flliott.  a  first  cousin  to  the  noted  Gen.  Lee,  late  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy. 

William  II.  and  Louisa  Galbreath  became  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  viz.:  Sarati  E..  who 
married  John  Newberry,  of  Tennessee;  they  have 
two  children — Mary  L.  and  William  B. ;  Thomas, 
now  deceased;  John,  who  married  Miss  Paulina 


254 


COLES   COUNTY. 


'Clark;  George  \V.,  who  married  Miss  Fiette  Icen- 
hour;  Phebe  F.,  Mrs  John  C.  Mitchell;  Gideon  F., 
who  married  Miss  Frances  II.  Brooks,  and  William 
B.,  deceased;  Millird,  Ann,  James  H.,  Pembrook, 
also  deceased.  William  B.  possessed  more  than 
ordinary  ability  and  became  .prominent  in  the 
political  affairs  of  Central  Illinois.  In  1884  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  on  the  Democratic 
ticket,  but  had  only  served  one  session  when  his 
death  took  place. 

Mr.  Galbreath  has  a  snug  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
which  he  has  brought  to  a  fine  state  of  cultivation 
and  provided  with  convenient  and  substantial 
buildings.  He  assisted  his  children  in  their  settle- 
ment in  life,  and  has  always  possessed  that  large 
heart  and  liberal  disposition  which  have  induced 
him  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  needy  whenever 
it  was  in  his  power.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Gen.  Jackson,  in  1832,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  a  stanch  adherent  to  the  Democratic 
party.  He  was  one  of  the  Trustees  of  Ashmore 
Township  for  a  period  of  twelve  years,  and  no 
man  in  this  count}'  has  been  more  deeply  interested 
in  noting  its  advancement  and  welfare.  Mrs.  Gal- 
breath  has  been  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  since  1850.  Mr.  Galbreath 
never  connected  himself  with  any  church,  but  has 
aimed  to  shape  his  life  in  accordance  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Golden  Rule,  and  in  which,  those 
who  know  him  best  claim  that  he  has  succeeded 
admirably.  . 


FLORER,  a  successful  and  extensive  stock- 
farmer  of  Morgan  Township,  owns  and  oc- 
cupies a  fine  homestead  on  section  29,  and 
for  a  period  of  seventeen  years  has  been 
largely  identified  with  the  agricultural  interests  of 
Central  Illinois.  He  first  drew  breath  in  New- 
port, Vermillion  Co.,  Ind.,  March  29,  1839,  and  is 
the  sou  of  Alexander  B.  and  America  A.  (Herbert) 
Florer,  both  natives  of  Kentucky,  the  father  born 
in  1801,  and  the  mother  in  1816.  They  were  of 
German  and  French  extraction,  respectively. 

Alexander  B.  Florer  was  one  of  the  earliest  pio- 
neers of  Indiana,  and  became  prominently  con- 
nected with  public  affairs  in  Vermillion  County. 


He  was  the  second  clerk  of  the  County  Court. 
which  office  he  held  for  fourteen  years,  and  was 
also  Recorder,  holding  the  office  at  different  times 
for  a  long  period.  He  had  educated  himself,  and 
was  well  informed  in  regard  to  legal  matters,  in 
due  time  becoming  one  of  the  most  eminent  law- 
yers of  the  day,  while  also  exercising  no  small  in- 
fluence in  the  Republican  part}',  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  most  earnest  supporters.  He  held  office 
for  a  number  of  years,  his  services  terminating  only 
with  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Vermillion 
1  County,  Aug.  9,  1865. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  but  sixteen  years 
of  age  when  she  became  the  wife  of  Alexander 
Florer.  She  was  a  lady  in  all  respects  eminently 
fitted  to  be  his  companion  through  life,  and  sym- 
pathized with  him  in  all  his  worthy  ambitions  and 
undertakings.  Her  childhood  was  spent  in  Ken- 
tucky, whence  she  removed  with  her  parents  to  In- 
diana before  her  marriage.  She  became  the  mother 
of  five  children,  of  whom  the  record  is  as  follows: 
William  J.  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  State  of 
Indiana,  and  became  a  man  of  property  in  Wa- 
basha  County,  Minn.,  where  he  finally  engaged  in 
banking,  and  departed  this  life  July  20,  1881,  leav- 
ing a  wife  and  three  children,  who  are  now  resi- 
dents of  Greencastle,  Ind.;  our  subject  was  the 
second  son  ;  Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  F.  M.  Odell, 
and  lives  at  Oakland,  this  county;  Ellen  died  in 
infancy ;  Bruce  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  en- 
gaged in  banking  with  his  brother  in  Minnesota, 
and  was  subsequently  elected  Auditor  of  the  coun- 
ty on  the  Republican  ticket  by  a  majority  of  700; 
he  was  cut  down  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  dy- 
ing one  year  after  his  election,  leaving  a  wife  and 
one  child,  who  are  now  residents  of  Wabasha 
County,  Minn, 

The  subject  of  this  history  was  reared  in  Vermil- 
lion County,  Ind.,  and  when  fourteen  years  of  age 
commenced  clerking  for  the  firm  of  Jones.  Cnlbert- 
son  &  Co.,  and  three  years  later  was  appointed 
Deputy  Auditor  of  the  county  under  Henry  D. 
Washburn.  Afterward  he  was  Deputy  Clerk  and 
Recorder,  when  but  twenty  years  of  age.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  late  war  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  18th 
Ind.  Vol.  Inf.,  serving  three  years  and  being  occu- 
pied much  of  the  time  as  private  messenger  for  Col. 


i-IBRARY 
OF  THE 

OF  ILLINO/S 


COLES   COUNTV. 


257 


Tom  Patterson  and  Gen.  II.  D.  Washburn.  lie 
served  until  the  close  of  his  term  of  enlistment, 
and  then  receiving  his  honorable  discharge,  came 
in  September,  1864,  to  this  county,  joining  his 
mother  ;it  Milton  Station,  where  he  engaged  in 
general  merchandising,  and  carried  on  business  suc- 
cessfully until  October,  1870.  lie  then  removed 
to  his  mother's  farm  in  Morgan  Township,  where 
he  now  resides. 

The  father  of  our  subject  purchased  the  land 
which  the  latter  now  occupies,  in  1853,  and  after 
making  some  improvements  upon  it,  returned,  in 
1854,  to  Indiana.  The  later  embellishments  have 
been  effected  by  our  subject,  who  was  married 
June  '24,  186G,  to  Miss  Louisa  A.  Hawkins,  a  na- 
tive of  Rush  County,  Ind.,  born  March  7,  1846. 
She  came  with  her  parents  to  this  county  when  a 
child  four  years  of  age,  and  was  deprived  by  death 
of  the  affectionate  care  of  her  mother  while  still 
young  in  years.  She  has  one  brother,  Frank  M., 
who  is  now  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  at 
Indianapolis. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Florer  settled  down  upon  the  farm, 
and  in  due  time  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
five  daughters  and  one  son :  William  B.,  born  in 
1867,  died  in  1871  ;  Laura  A.,  born  in  1868,  died 
in  1869;  Elizabeth,  born  May  13,  1876,  is  at  home 
with  her  parents;  Katie  and  Clara,  twins,  were 
born  June  11,  1878;  Jessie  Ellen;  in  1884.  Mr. 
Florer  is  also  proprietor  of  a  sorghum  factory 
which  he  operates  profitably  each  year,  turning  out 
some  seasons  as  many  as  13,000  gallons.  He  also 
raises  a  large  amount  of  broom  corn,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  this,  gives  much  attention  to  the  breeding 
of  fine  stock,  lie  is  accounted  among  the  thorough 
and  enterprising  farmers  of  Morgan  Township,  and 
has  built  up  a  homestead  which  forms  one  of  its 
most  attractive  features. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Florer  are  members  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  while 
our  subject  is  also  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Honor,  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Encampment,  at  Paris, 
Edgar  County.  Mrs.  America  Florer,  the  mother, 
is  still  living,  making  her  home  with  her  son,  on 
the  home  place,  which  is  mainly  her  own  property. 
She  was  born  in  September,  1 81 6, and  is  consequently 
seventy-one  years  of  age,  but  retains  her  former 


energy  and  activity  in  a  remarkable  degree.  Her 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Mc- 
(•ruder,  lived  to  be  eighty  years  of  age,  and  finally 
came  to  her  death  by  accident,  falling  downstairs. 
The  McGruders  were  Democrats  of  the  strongest 
type,  and  our  subject  has  adhered  largely  to  the 
teachings  and  beliefs  of  his  honored  mother,  being 
Democratic  in  politics,  although  not  strictly  radical. 


BURGNER  is  a  well-known  and 
wea^uy  ci1'2611  °f  Lafayette  Township,  who 
was  born  Dec.  13, 1822,  in  Lebanon  County, 
Pa.  He  is  the  son  of  Conrad  and  Elizabeth 
(Shaffer)  Burgner,  who  were  likewise  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  When  Mr.  Burgner  was  about  six 
years  of  age  his  family  removed  to  Ohio,  and 
located  in  Fail-field  County,  where  they  were  among 
the  early  settlers.  He  passed  his  childhood  and 
youth  with  his  parents  there,  and  was  taught  the 
carpenter's  trade. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1846,  Mr.  Bnrguer  was 
married  to  Miss  Nancj'  Whitesel.  Mrs.  Burgner  is 
the  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Sidener)  White- 
sel, and  was  born  Oct.  2,  1822,  in  Pickaway  County, 
Ohio.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Burgner  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  trade  several  years,  and  then  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  the  autumn  of  1854  he 
removed  with  his  young  family  to  Illinois,  and  the 
following  spring  settled  in  Lafayette  Township, 
Coles  County.  With  a  capital  of  about  $5,000  he 
invested  in  land,  first  purchasing  200  acres,  and  sub- 
sequently adding  to  this  he  became  the  owner  of 
1,200  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  gave  his  atten- 
tion exclusively  to  farming,  in  which  he  has  been 
very  successful. 

Mr.  Burgner  is  a  man  of  great  activity  and 
energy,  and  applied  himself  so  closely  to  business 
that  his  health  began  to  fail,  and  he  has  recently 
been  obliged  to  relinquish  it  altogether.  His  farm 
is  supplied  with  all  the  modern  improvements,  a 
commodious  brick  residence,  and  appropriate  farm 
buildings.  lie  has  for  many  years  been  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  giving  liberally 
of  his  means  to  its  support.  He  is  generous,  both 
in  public  and  private  life,  and  has  given  each  of 


t. 


258 


COLES   COUNTY. 


his  children  about  160  acres  of  land.  Mr.  and  Mr>. 
Burgner  had  a  family  of  seven  children  born  to 
them,  five  of  whom  are  now  living-.  Their  names 
are  as  follows :  Allen  C.,  George  F.,  Louisa  J., 
the  wife  of  Thornton  Ashbrook;  J.  Morris,  and 
Rhoda  L.,  the  wife  of  Alfred  S.  Newby.  It  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  present  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Burg- 
ner in  this  connection  as  being  that  of  a  worthy 
and  honored  resident  of  Lafayette  Township,  and 
a  representative  citizen  of  the  county. 


DOLE,  deceased.  During  the  early 
»)  history  of  the  American  Colonies  Stephen 
/I' — ^  Dole  (or  McDole  as  some  claim),  a  native 
of  Scotland,  settled  in  Massachusetts,  where  he 
reared  a  family.  Among  his  children  was  Stephen, 
Jr.,  who,  after  reaching  manhood,  married  and  be- 
came the  father  of  Col.  Stephen  Dole,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Bedford,  N.  H.,  where  he  took  up 
his  abode  in  1779.  Col.  Dole  was  the  father  of 
nine  children,  namely,  Richard,  William,  Jane, 
Joseph  G. ;  Enoch,  of  our  sketch;  Anna,  Friend, 
Betsey  and  Sallie. 

The  fifth  child  of  the  family  above  named  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Bedford, 
N.  H.,  in  1788.  and  was  reared  tinder  the  home 
roof,  and  during  early  manhood  learned  the  cabi- 
net-maker's trade,  but  afterward  followed  carpenter- 
ing and  plastering,  lie  left  his  native  State  while 
a  young  man,  migrating  first  to  Ohio,  and  thence 
to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  He  located  on  a  farm  near 
the  latter  city,  and  was  content  to  follow  the  life  of 
an  agriculturist  until  resting  from  his  earthy  labors, 
his  decease  occurring  March  30,  1855. 

The  marriage  of  Enoch  Dole  and  Miss  Harriett 
P.,  daughter  of  .Stephen  and  Prudence  (Sumner) 
Dexter,  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride  in 
Danville,  Vt.,  in  1809.  Stephen  Dexter  operated 
the  first  scythe  factory  in  the  United  States,  and 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  the  Green 
Mountain  State,  where  his  remains  were  finally  laid 
to  rest. 

Three  sons  and  one  daughter  of  Enoch  Dole  set- 
tled near  Mattoon,  111.,  namely,  Joseph  C.,  Charles 
M.,  Stephen  Dexter  and  Sarah  Ann.  The  latter  is 


the  widow  of  William  M.  Barr,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Stephen  de- 
parted this  life  at  his  home  March  17,  1885.  The 
household  included  ten  children,  and  the  four  men- 
tioned came  to  this  State  while  the  country  was 
practically  a  wilderness.  Their  names  are  familiar 
among  the  pioneers  who  still  survive,  and  with 
whem  they  labored  in  common  to  develop  the  re- 
sources of  Central  Illinois.  They  proved  themselves 
self-sacrificing,  industrious  and  enterprising,  and  as 
having  inherited  in  a  marked  degree  those  traits  of 
character  which  distinguished  their  honored  father. 
Those  who  knew  Enoch  Dole  entertained  for  him 
the  profoundest  respect,  and  found  in  him  a  man  of 
great  kindness  of  heart,  and  always  willing  to  serve 
his  friends  or  his  community.  One  of  the  sons, 
William  P.,  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  is  a  resident 
of  Washington,  and  was  Commissioner  of  Indian 
affairs  under  the  administration  of  President  Lin- 
coln. He  has,  by  a  life  of  industry  and  a  wise  in- 
vestment of  funds,  secured  a  competency,  and  the 
latter  years  of  his  life  are  being  spent  in  ease  and. 
comfort.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Gordon, 
daughter  of  the  late  Daniel  Gordon,  of  Beloit,  Wis. 


f;  OHN  CUNNINGHAM,  attorney  at  law,  and 
engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  insurance 
business  at  Mattoon,  is  the  son  of  the  late 
James  T.  Cunningham,  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  Coles  County  as  a  gentle- 
man of  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  largely 
identified  with  the  agricultural  and  business  inter- 
ests of  Central  Illinois.  Our  subject  was  born 
in  Grayson  County,  Ky.,  Jan.  0,  1828.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  the  same  county,  and  his  mother 
before  her  marriage  was  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Yocum. 
The  elder  Cunningham  engaged  in  farming  first 
in  his  native  county,  but  after  his  marriage  emi- 
grated to  Central  Illinois,  where  he  became  owner 
eventually  of  4,000  acres. of  land.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  Legislature  three  terms  and 
was  a  man  of  fine  business  capacities,  contributing 
his  full  quota  toward  the  development  and  prog- 
ress ol  this  county.  The  children  of  his  first 
marriage,  five  in  number,  were  John,  our  subject; 


j^m 


COLES   COUNTY. 


251) 


William,  wjio  (Ued  when  seventeen  years  of  age; 
James,  who  died  when  three  years  old;  Mary,  now 
the  wife  of  Capt.  llinckle,  of  Mattoon,  and  James 
H.,  Jr. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  and  completed  his  education  in  Tran- 
sylvania University,  at  Lexington,  Ky.  He  re- 
mained a  member  of  his  father's  household  until 
after  reaching  his  majority,  and  then  engaged  in 
merchandising  at  Richmond,  three  miles  southwest 
of  Mattoon.  His  partner  at  that  time  was  Charles 
W.  Nabb,  and  after  the  first  year  the  father  of  our 
subject  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  N.,  and  with 
his  son,  John,  opened  a  store  in  Paradise,  which 
they  operated  four  years  under  the  firm  name  of 
Cunningham  &  Son.  Afterward  they  removed 
their  goods  to  Mattoon,  and  the  firm  became  True, 
Cunningham  &  Co. ;  they  operated  about  two  years, 
and  then  sold  out. 

Afterward  Mr.  C.,  with  four  other  gentlemen, 
Messrs.  Marshall,  Cunninghnin,  True  and  O.  B. 
Ficklin.  organized  the  Mattoon  Bank,  which  was 
operated  about  two  years.  Our  subject  at  the 
same  time  engaged  in  merchandising  with  G.  M. 
Mitchell-at  Mattoon,  and  at  the  same  time  ran  a 
grain  warehouse  for  about  four  years.  Mr.  Mitchell 
then  sold  his  interest,  and  the  firm  became  Cun- 
ningham <fe  Craig.  This  firm  remained  in  existence 
ten  months,  and  our  subject  theu  engaged  in  the 
merchandise  and  live-stock  trade  with  E.  P.  Allen 
and  M.  B.  Able,  the  firm  name  being  Cunningham, 
Alien  it  Able.  Two  years  later  Messrs.  Allen  and 
Able  sold  their  interest  to  Mr.  C.,  who  carried  on 
business  two  years  longer,  then  closing  out  com- 
menced to  read  law,  and  a  few  years  later  entered 
upon  the  practice  which  has  now  become  extensive 
and  successful.  Mr.  C.  has  held  the  office  of  City 
Attorney  two  years,  and  was  Master  in  Chancery  six 
years.  He  was  appointed  Postmaster  in  1885, 
holding  the  office  two  years.  He  is  Democratic  in 
politics,  and  lias  aided  materially  in  building  up 
the  business  interests  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Cunningham  was  first  married  to  MissHallie 
B.  Allen,  of  Kentucky,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  one  ohild,  Ella,  the  wife  of  Joe  McCrorey,  of 
Charleston,  and  the  mother  of  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, Hallie.  Mrs.  Hallie  Cunningham  departed 


this  life  at  the  home  of  her  husband  in  Mattoon, 
June  24,  1863.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject, 
to  whom  he  was  married  in  186G,  was  formerly 
Miss  Sarah  Ilinkle.,  Of  this  union  there  have  been 
born  two  sons,  James  and  Walter,  who  learned  the 
printing  business  and  are  now  engaged  at  it  in 
Mattoon. 

Mr.  Cunningham,  politically,  is  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat,  and  as  a  citizen  and  business  man,  is 
held  in  high  regard  among  his  fellow-townsmen. 
Besides  being  a  gentleman  well  informed  and  of 
good  education,  he  possesses  considerable  literary 
talent,  and  has  often  been  a  correspondent  of  Chi- 
cago and  other  papers. 


ILLIAM  GUEST,  one  of  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  Seven  Hickory  Township,  came  to 
Central  Illinois  while  it  was  yet  a  wilder- 
ness, and  while  assisting  in  the  development  of  its 
resources  has  noted  with  pride  and  satisfaction  the 
growth  and  progress  of  his  adopted  county. 

Mr.  Guest  was  born  in  Hawkins  County,  Tenn., 
Oct.  30,  1809,  and  from  his  earliest  boyhood  has 
had  little  experience  with  anything  other  than  farm 
life.  His  father,  Bay.il.  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  his  mother,  Rachel  (Crews)  Guest,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia.  The  five  children  of  the  parental 
household  are  recorded  as  follows :  Rebecca,  born 
in  Tennessee,  became  first  the  wife  of  D.  Shiplet, 
and  the  mother  of  five  children;  her  second  hus- 
band was  John  Woodall,  now  living  in  Douglas 
County.  111.  Of  this  marriage  there  were  born  two 
children.  The  mother  died  in  about  1840.  Mr.  W. 
was  afterward  married  twice,  first  to  Rachel  Miner, 
of  Ohio,  by  which  union  two  children  were  born, 
both  dying  young,  and  then  to  Miss  Lucy  Miner, 
who  became  the  mother  of  five  children,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living  in  Douglas  County ;  Mary, 
who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  was  the  first  wife  of 
John  Woodall;  she  became  the  mother  of  one  child, 
both  mother  and  child  passing  away  soon  afterward  ; 
Jacob,  born  in  Tennessee,  Feb.  7,  1802,  married 
Miss  Polly  Welsh,  of  Virginia,  and  they  had  three 
children,  and  died  in  Kentucky,  the  former  at  the 
|  advanced  age  of  eighty-five  years;  Nathan,  born 


260 


COLES   COUNTY. 


in  1807.  came  to  this  county  and  improved  a  farm, 
occupying  it  until  his  death  i«  1854;  William,  of 
our  sketch,  was  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  spent  his  youth  and 
boyhood  in  Kentucky,  and  after  reaching  his  ma- 
jority, Feb.  20,  1834,  was  married  to  Miss  Chris- 
tiana James,  of  that  .State.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  John  and  Margaret  James,  natives  of  Virginia. 
While  still  single  they  moved  to  Ohio  County,  Ky.. 
on  the  home  farm,  and  in  1 838  came  to  Central 
Illinois,  locating  first  iu  Douglas  County,  whence 
he  removed  to  Morgan  Township,  and  then  to  a 
point  near  Oakland,  where  he  resided  until  1879. 
He  then  purchased  the  land  which  is  included  in 
his  present  homestead.  During  the  early  days  he 
entered  with  zest  into  the  employments  and  pleas- 
ures of  the  early  pioneers,  and  with  the  aid  of  one 
yellow  dog  and  two  white  greyhounds,  largely  as- 
sisted in  clearing  the  wolves  from  the  northern 
part  of  Coles  County. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guest  became  the  parents  of  one 
child  only,  John  Bazil,  born  at  Crab  Orchard,  Ky., 
Jan.  12,  1835.  He  was  a  small  boy  when  his  par- 
ents came  to  this  county,  and  with  the  exception  of 
several  years  which  they  spent  at  Oakland,  has 
always  lived  with  his  parents.  He  married  Miss 
Anna  Galbraith,  a  native  of  this  county,  whose 
parents  were  born  in  Kentucky,  and  emigrated  to 
Illinois  at  an  early  day.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Guest 
had  three  children,  of  whom  only  two  are  living — 
William  Avis,  who  was  born  March  17,  1869,  and 
John  Oscar,  March  8,  1872.  Both  are  promis- 
ing young  men,  and  reside  with  their  parents  at 
home. 


HILIP  GARVKll,  who  has  been  a  resident 
)V/  of  this  county  for  over  thirty  years,  has 
been  engaged  the  greater  part  of  the  time 
ll\  iu  farming  pursuits.  He  took  possession 
of  the  land  which  he  now  owns  and  occupies  iu 
about  1«G7.  His  first  purchase  consisted  of  eighty 
acres,  which  he  brought  from  wild  prairie  to  a  good 
state  of  cultivation  and  which  constitutes  a  part  of 
his  present  homestead,  where  he  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising. 

Upon  coming  to  this  county,   Mr.    Garver,  for 


about  two  and  one-half  years,  was  employed  in 
getting  out  Lies  for  the  I.  it  St.  L.  It.  It.  He  com- 
menced in  life  without  means,  and  by  the  exercise 
of  his  own  industry  has  attained  to  his  present  po- 
sition and  accumulated  a  goodly  amount  of  prop- 
erty, his  farm  containing  240  acres.  Hjs  birth 
took  place  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  in  the 
Kingdom  of  Prussia,  April  27,  1831,  3:15  P.  M., 
and  he  continued  with  his  parents  in  his  native 
Province  until  about  1836,  and  then  the  latter  de- 
cided upon  emigrating  to  the  New  World.  _  They 
embarked  upon  a  sailing-vessel,  and  after  a  voyage 
of  nine  weeks  landed  in  New  Orleans,  whence  they 
proceeded  to  Cincinnati,  reaching  the  Queen  City 
during  the  week  between  Christmas  and  New  Year. 
Peter  Garver,  the  father  of  our  subject,  and  his 
wife,  who  was  formerly  Miss  Mary  Koeler,  were 
both  natives  of  Prussia  and  were  occupied  in  farm- 
ing pursuits.  This  lady  was  the  second  wife  of 
Mr.  Garver. 

By  Peter  Garver's  first  marriage  there  was  born 
one  child,  a  son,  John.  By  the  second  there  were 
three  children,  of  whom  the  eldest  died  when  three 
years  of  age.  The  youngest,  Jacob,  was  born  in 
Germany,  and  is  now  a  man  of  considerable  promi- 
nence, being  Sheriff  of  Franklin  Comity,  Ind.  He 
married  Miss  Phronia  Shrunk,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and.  they  had  four  children,  two  now  de- 
ceased. The  mother  of  our  subject  died  when  her 
son  Jacob  was  about  three  weeks  old.  Peter 
Garver  was  the  third  time  married  to  a  lady  of 
his  own  country,  and  there  were  born  twelve 
children,  including  two  sets  of  twins,  all  boys. 
John  is  now  a  resident  of  Crawford  County, 
Kan.  One  son,  Peter,  who,  during  the  late  war 
enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  in  an  Indiana  cavalry 
regiment,  was  drowned  while  crossing  a  pond,  his 
horse  becoming  entangled  in  weeds  or  brush. 
Michael  is  a  liquor  dealer  in  t'onnersville,  Ind.; 
Kate  died  when  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  and 
another  daughter,  Frances,  died  when  thirteen  years 
old ;  Youst  is  a  resident  of  Arkansas. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch,   while  a  resident  of 

Franklin  County,  Ind.,  was  married,  Jan.  28,  1857, 

.   to  Miss  Barbara  Kmerine,  a   native  of   Cincinnati, 

who  was  the  sixth  in  a  family  of  nine  children  born 

to    her   parents.     Mr.   and    Mrs.    G.     became    the 


(ft 


COLES   COUNTY. 


261 


I 


parents  of  five  sons  and  four  daughters:  Mary 
Susan  was  born  Dec.  9,  1857,  and  died  Aug.  28, 
1  87  1  ;  Sallie  became  the  wife  of  Clarence  H.  Horsey, 
and  lives  in  Charleston;  Rosa  was  married  to  Nich- 
olas Mead,  and  died  April  3,  1884;  Louis  is  a  resi- 
dent of  tliis  township;  Jacob  and  Louisa  a.re  at 
home  with  their  parents.  The  younger  children 
were  Laura,  Joseph,  John,  now  deceased,  and 
Kdward. 


EORGE  R.  HALLOCK,  a  native  of  this 
county,  still  honors  it  by  remaining  in  it, 
and  is  a  resident  of  section  19,  Ashmore 
Township.  He  has  a  valuable  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
finely  cultivated,  and  in  addition  to  ordinary  farm 
duties,  is  engaged  in  breeding  high-grade  cattle  and 
horses,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  Poland-China  hogs. 
He  also  operates  a  steam  threshing-machine  of  ten- 
horse  power,  being  engineer  himself,  and  from 
which  he  has  realized  a  handsome  little  sum  an- 
nually for  the  last  eight  years.  He  is  genial  and 
companionable  in  disposition  and  besides  being  a 
favorite  among  his  fellow-citizens,  is  'considered  a 
first-class  agriculturist. 

Mr.  Hallock  was  born  in  Charleston  Township 
Sept.  12,  1847,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  W.  and 
Elizabeth  M.  (Clarke)  Hallock,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
Thomas  Hallock  and  his  wife  are  still  living  on  the 
homestead  in  Ashmore  Township,  which  they  have 
occupied  for  many  years,  and  where  Mr.  H.  has 
been  extensively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
growing.  They  are  highly  respected  members  of 
the  community,  and  belong  to  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Hallock  was  born  in 
New  York,  in  1817,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  in  1820.  Their  eight  children 
were  George,  Charles,  Elizabeth,  James,  Thomas, 
Eldora,  William  and  Alice. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  remained  on  the 
home  farm  until  his  marriage,  Sept.  30,  1809.  His 
chosen  bride  was  Miss  Virginia  B.  Gover,  a  native 
of  Leesburg,  Va.,  born  June  22,  1850,  and  the 
daughter  of  Edward  R.  and  Ellen  R.  (Hammer  ley) 
Gover.  also  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Mr.  G. 
was  born  in  1818,  and  died  Sept.  17,  1881.  He 


was  a  saddler  by  trade  and  also  engaged  in  the 
lumber  and  grocery  business.  He  was  one  of  the 
leading  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  a  man  of  fine  education,  and  a  singer  of 
marked  talents.  During  the  late  war  he  enlisted  as 

j  a  Union  'soldier  with  the  Loudoun  County  Inde- 
pendent Rangers,  and  served  four  years,  in  the 
meantime  being  taken  prisoner  by  the  rebels.  He 

j  was  promoted  First  Lieutenant.  He  yielded 
up  his  life  in  Ashmore  Township  in  1881,  after 
having  suffered  many  weeks  with  typhoid  fever. 
The  mother  of  Mrs.  Hallock  was  born  in  1820,  and 
became  the  wife  of  Edwin  Gover  on  the  18th  of 
April,  1849.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  five 
children,  namely,  Virginia  B.,  Hannah  H.,  Fannie 
and  Carrie,  deceased,  and  Rachel.  Mrs.  G.  was  a 
member  of  the  same  church  as  her  husband.  The 
latter  also  belonged  to  the  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and  was  a 
Mason  of  many  years'  standing. 

Mr',  and  Mrs.  Hallock  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  namely,  Elizabeth,  Welling,  Edwin, 
now  deceased,  Emory,  deceased,  Charlie,  Louis  and 
Platt.  The  parents  are  members  in  good  standing 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  politically 
Mr.  H.  uniformly  votes  with  the  Republican  party. 


LIVER  D.  HAWKINS,  a  prominent  member 
of  the  agricultural  community  of  Ashmore 
Township,  owns  and  occupies  a  fine  home- 
stead on  section  36.  of  which  he  has  been  in  pos- 
session since  the  spring  of  1873.  He  came  to  this 
county  when  a  youth  nineteen  years  of  age,  with 
his  parents,  and  for  a  period  of  forty -six  years  has 
been  closely  identified  with  its  progress  and  ad- 
vancement. The  essential  points  of  his  history  are 
as  follows : 

The  Hawkins  family  is  of  excellent  origin,  being 
of  Irish  and  German  on  the  paternal  and  Scotch 
and  Welsh  on  the  maternal  side.  The  first  repre- 
sentatives of  the  family  in  this  country  settled  in 
the  Southern  and  Middle  States.  Oliver  D.  was 
born  in  Fleming  County,  Ky.,  Feb.  28,  1822,  and 
is  the  son  of  Gregory  and  Elizabeth  (Ballar)  Haw- 
kins, natives  respectively  of  Maryland  and  Ken- 
tucky. Gregory  Hawkins  was  born  May  10,  1789, 


I 


262 


COLES   COUNTY. 


and  died  in  this  county,  Nov.  9,  18G9.  He  came 
here  with  his  family  in  the  spring  of  1841,  and  lo- 
cating on  section  33,  range  10  east,  in  Ashmore 
Township,  engaged  in  farming  until  his  earthly  la- 
bors ended.  The  wife  and  mother  was  born  Jan. 
17,  1793,  and  survived  her  husband  but  four  years, 
dying  at  the  homestead  in  Charleston  Township, 
May  12,  1873.  The  parents  were  married  in  Ken- 
tucky on  the  8th  of  June,  1809,  the  ceremony  tak- 
ing place  near  the  home  of  the  bride  under  a  large 
sugar-maple  tree.  They  lived  harmoniously  during 
the  many  years  they  were  permitted  to  pass  together 
and  were  buried  side  by  side  in  Ashmore  Cemetery. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability  and  at  one  time  possessed  a  large 
property,  which  was  lost  on  account  of  his  going 
security  for  friends.  He  possessed  extreme  kind- 
ness of  heart,  was  remarkably  indulgent  and  affec- 
tionate in  his  family  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  very  strong,  physically,  and  of  fine 
personal  appearance,  being  five  feet  nine  inches  in 
height,  and  weighing  180  pounds.  He  was  promi- 
nent in  the  local  affairs  of  his  native  county  in 
Kentucky,  serving  as  Sheriff  and  being  otherwise 
identified  with  its  public  interests.  The  mother 
was  a  lady  of  attractive  personal  appearance,  pos- 
sessing dark  hair  and  eyes,  and  of  good  stature  and 
weighed  150  pounds.  They  became  the  parents 
of  fifteen  children,  viz.,  Harvey  H.,  born  April  15, 
1810;  Ashel  J.,  Oct.  9,  181  I  ;  George  B.,  April  12, 
1813;  John  C.,  Nov.  30,  1814;  July  A.,  Nov.  G, 
1816;  Felix  A.,  June  24, 1820;  Oliver  D.,  Feb.  28, 
1822;  Louisana  L.,  Feb.  13,  1825;  Polly  C.,  Sept. 
29,  1827;  Gregory  R.,  Dec.  11,  1829;  James  C., 
April  11,  1832;  Elizabeth  C'.,  Aug.  13,  1834; 
Laura,  born  in  1836,  and  Lorenzo  E.,  May  1, 
1839.  Of  these  five  are  now  living,  namely,  Felix 
A.,  Oliver  D.,  Polly  C.,  Gregory  II.  and  Lorenzo  E. 
Mr.  Hawkins  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Indiana 
with  his  parents  in  1829,  when  a  boy  of  seven 
years,  and  from  there  in  1841,  to  this  county. 
After  reaching  his  majority  he  commenced  working 
out  by  the  month,  receiving  at  first  &G,  and  finally 
$10  per  month.  Money  was  very  scarce  in  those 
days  and  our  subject  partly  secured  his  marriage 
license  by  the  sale  of  a  coon  skin.  lie  had  but 
twenty-five  cents  in  cash  and  the  price  of  the  li- 


cense  was  sixty-two  and  one-half  cents.  While  he 
was  deliberating  as  to.  what  course  to  pursue,  his 
dog  one  night  treed  a  coon,  which  Oliver  captured, 
and  with  the  proceeds  was  enabled  to  get  the  permit 
to  be  married.  The  maiden  of  his  choice  was  M  iss 
Mary  Latter,  and  they  were  made  husband  and  wife 
March  21,  1844,  by  II.  C.  Dunbar,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  the  wedding  taking  place  in  Ashmore  Town- 
ship, at  the  home  of  the  bride.  Mrs.  Hawkins  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  Jan.  0,  1823.  and 
made  the  most  of  her  advantages  at  the  common 
school,  in  due  time  becoming  a  teacher,  which  pro- 
fession she  followed  for  many  years.  Her  parents, 
John  and  Mary  (Hurd)  Lafler,  were  natives  of 
New  York  State.  Her  father  was  born  April  19, 
17^9,  and  came  to  this  county  in  1837.  He  lo- 
cated on  a  tract  of  land  in  Ashmore  Township, 
where  he  carried  on  fanning  until  seized  with  the 
fatal  illness  which  terminated  in  his  death,  Jan.  3, 
1844.  His  wife,  Mary,  was  born  in  1798,  and  died 
at  the  homestead  in  Ashmore  Township,  ten  years 
after  the  decease  of  her  husband,  her  death  taking 
place  in  1854.  Both  had  united  with  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church  in  their  native  State.  The 
parental  family  included  eleven  children,  who  were 
born  as  follows:  George,  Oct.  22,  1818;  Am}-, 
Oct.  7,  1820;  Mary,  Jan.  6,  1823;  Jane,  Nov.  9, 
1824;  John,  Dec.  5,  1826;  William,  Nov.  8,  1828; 
James,  March  11,  1831 ;  Lyman,  April  27,1833; 
Edward,  April  19,  1836;  Aquilla  and  Priscilla, 
twins,  March  9,  1840. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawkins  went 
to  housekeeping  in  a  modest  dwelling  constructed 
of  split  hickory  logs,  and  "  pulled  together  "  in 
their  efforts  to  establish  a  comfortable  home  and 
secure  something  for  a  rainy  day.  The}-  finally 
met  with  the  reward  of  their  labors,  and  have  now 
an  estate  consisting  of  365  acres  of  valuable  land, 
with  shapely  and  substantial  farm  buildings  and  the 
best  fencing  in  the  county.  The  farm  is  supplied 
with  streams  of  living  water,  which  add  to  its 
value  by  hundreds  of  dollais.  Mr.  Hawkins  has 
been  a  man  prominent  among  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  Central  Illinois,  and  his  excellent  judg- 
ment in  public  matters  was  long  ago  recognized  by 

his  fellow-townsmen,      lie  served  first  as  Constable 

• 

nine  years,  and   in  the  spring  of   I860  was   elected 


COLKS    COUNTY. 


263 


Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office  he  held  for  a 
period  of  twenty-five  years.  He  was  the  first  Po- 
lice Magistrate  in  Ashmore  Township,  and  has  been 
School  Treasurer  and  Director  for  many  years.  In 
the  spring  of  IS(il)  lie  was  elected  to  represent  the 
people  of  Ashmore  on  the  County  Board  of  Super- 
visors, and  his  careful  attention  to  the  duties  of  this 
responsible  position  secured  him  the  approval  of 
his  townsmen.  In  the  meantime  he  was  appointed 
Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee,  during  which 
time  the  county  purchased  the  grounds  for  the  Poor 
Fani;,  of  which  he  was  Superintendent  for  three 
years.  He  was  also  County  Coroner  for  two  years. 
Mr.  Hawkins  is  the  only  surviving  charter  mem- 
ber of  Ashmore  Masonic  Lodge  No.  390,  which 
was  organized  in  1861.  He  has  voted  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  since  the  organization  of  the  party,  and 
is  one  of  the  stanchest  supporters  of  its  principles. 


J"~  OSHUA  YOUNG.     One  of  the  most  attract- 
ive homesteads   of  North  Okaw   Township, 
and   the  property   of  the  gentleman  above 
'    mentioned,  is  pleasantly  located   on   section 
12,  and  embraces  250  acres  of  land.    The  fields  are 
well  fenced,  the  buildings  convenient  and  substan- 
tial, and  one  of  the  attractive  features  of  the  place 
is  the  choice  stock,  including  Norman  and  Clydes- 
dale  horses   of  superior  quality,  besides  the  other 
farm  animals,  which  are  well  cared  for,  and  present 
a  healthy  and  thriving  appearance. 

Mr.  Young  on  coining  to  Illinois,  located  first  in 
Mattoon  Township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming. 
Soon  afterward,  however,  he  repaired  to  Monroe 
County,  Ind.,  and  located  one  and  one-half  miles 
east  of  Bloomington,  where  he  resided  for  ten 
years,  and  until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  late  war. 
He  watched  the  progress  of  the  Rebellion  for  ;i 
time  and  seeing  no  prospect  of  its  immediate  sup- 
pression, concluded  that  it  was  his  duty  to  assist  in 
the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  accordingly  in 
1864,  enlisted  in  an  Indiana  Infantry  regiment,  and 
was  mustered  in  at  Indianapolis.  The  regiment 
was  sent  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  and  arrived  there  just 
in  time  to  be  present  at  the  battle  of  Brush  Creek. 
From  this  <>ur  subject  escaped  unharmed,  and  then 


going  to  Chattanooga  was  assigned  with  his  com- 
rades to  guard  duty,  and  thus  continued  until  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  service.  Then,  returning 
to  his  old  haunts  near  Indianapolis,  he  continued 
farming  until  1884.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  he 
came  back  to  Illinois,  and  with  his  family  located 
on  the  old  Hopper  homestead,  where  they  now  re- 
side. 

Joshua  Young  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Ind., 
Jan.  10,  1844,  and  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of 
nine  children,  the  offspring  of  Joseph  and  Barbara 
(Whisman)  Young,  natives  of  Virginia.  Joseph 
Young  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  after  his 
marriage  pursued  his  chosen  calling  in  Indiana, 
with  the  exception  of  a  short  time,  continuously 
until  his  death.  He  spent  his  last  days  at  the  home 
of  his  son  Joshua.  His  widow  still  survives  and  is 
living  with  our  subject,  having  reached  an  ad- 
vanced nge.  The  latter  was  the  last  child  to  leave 
the  parental  roof  and  remained  unmarried  until 
thirty  years  of  age.  His  union  with  Miss  Talitha 
Hopper  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride  in 
North  Okaw  Township,  Oct.  7,  1873.  Mrs.  Young 
was  born  in  that  township,  Sept.  9,  1852,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Dudley  and  Jane  (Dixon)  Hopper,  na- 
tives respectively  of  Kentucky  and  Virginia,  and  a 
sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  AUU:.M. 

The  children  of  Mr.  Young,  five  in  number, 
were  born  as  follows:  Dudley,  Sept.  4,  1876;  Wil- 
bur, born  July  21,  1878,  died  July  3,  1879;  Homer 
was  born  July  9,  1880;  Rebecca,  Oct.  24,  1883,  and 
Grace.  Aug.  2,  1886.  Mr.  Young  is  carrying  on 
his  stock-raising  in  company  with  his  father-in-law, 
Mr.  Hopper,  and  the  firm  has  built  up  quite  a  repu- 
tation in  this  locality.  Our  subject,  politically,  is 
decidedly  Democratic,  and  takes  quite  an  active 
part  in  local  politics. 


NEWMAN.  Mr.  Newman,  one 
i  substantial  citizens  of  Coles  Coun- 
ty, is  a  retired  farmer  residing  in  Charles- 
ton. He  was  born  April  3,  1813,  in  Jefferson 
County,  E.  Tenn..and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Franklin)  Newman,  natives  of  Virginia.  John 
Newman  removed  to  Tennessee  and  passed  his  entire 


T 


264 


COLES    COUNTY. 


life  there  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried and  had  a  family  of  seventeen  children  born 
to  him,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturit}-.  He  was  an 
active,  energetic  man,  and  for  eight  or  ten  years 
held  the  office  of  Collector.  His  death  occurred 
Oct.  9,  1865. 

Madison  Newman  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
attending  school  and  assisting  in  the  farm  labor. 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-two,  when  he 
began  the  world  for  himself.  He  first  tried  the 
experiment  of  farming  on  rented  land,  and  then 
purchased  a  farm  on  credit,  which  he  conducted 
sixteen  years.  At  this  time  he  became  involved  in 
financial  difficulties  by  going  security  for  other  par- 
ties, which  obliged  him  to  sell  off  his  property  in 
order  to  pay  his  debts.  He  subsequently  purchased 
another  tract  of  land  containing  500  acres,  where 
he  carried  on  an  extensive  farming  business  four- 
teen years.  In  1865  he  came  to  Charleston  and 
rented  a  place  nine  miles  southwest  of  the  city, 
where  he  lived  four  years.  He  then  purchased  187 
acres  of  land  for  which  he  paid  15,850,  and  where  he 
spent  twelve  years,  in  the  meantime  adding  sixty- 
two  and  one-half  acres  to  his  estate.  In  1882  he 
purchased  his  present  place  of  residence  in  Charles- 
ton, and  also  another  house  and  two  lots  adjoining. 

Mr.  Newman's  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Nichol- 
son took  place  March  5,  1835.  She  was  a  native 
of  Tennessee  and  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ann 
(McGuire)  Nicholson.  The  former  is  a  native  of 
North  Carolina  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania. 
Their  family  consisted  of  seven  children,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Newman  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  She 
was  born  Aug.  21,  1*13.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newman 
had  a  family  of  eleven  children  born  to  them,  seven 
of  whom  are  now  living.  The  record  is  as  follows: 
George  W.  married  Miss  Emma  Enlow;  Matilda 
E.,  now  Mrs.  Johnson;  Nancy  J.,  now  Mrs.  Rankin, 
has  two  children,  Ida  and  William  P.;  James  M. 
married  Miss  Caroline  Freeman,  and  has  a  family 
of  four  children — Claud,  Mary,  Ellen  and  Jessie; 
Thomas  J.  married  Miss  Margaret  M.  Nicholson; 
Henry  D.  married  Miss  L.  Q.  Thompson,  and  has  a 
family  of  five  children — Olive  G.,  Bertram  M., 
Clyde  P.,  Myrtle  E.  and  Carl  E.;  Andrew  J.  mar- 
ried Miss  Rosa  Perisho,  and  has  a  family  of  three 
children — Olive  P.,  George  M.  and  Ruby  R. ;  Jo- 


seph  J..  deceased,  married  Miss  Minerva  Carr,  and 
had  a  familj'  of  three  children  —  Sarah  A.,  William 
F.  and  Jessie  B.  The  deceased  are,  William  F., 
who  died  Aug.  23,  1863;  Patrick  L.  died  Sept.  27, 
'  1866,  and  John  J.  died  Feb.  29,  1876. 

Mr.  Newman  is  a  progressive,  public-spirited  man. 
While  living  in  Tennessee  he  was  Captain  of  the 
State  Militia,  and  also  held  the  office  of  School 
Director  there.  Since  his  residence  in  Coles  County 
he  has  served  as  Road  Commissioner,  giving  entire 
satisfaction  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  Both 
himself  and  his  wife  are  highly  esteemed  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  New- 
man is  a  Democrat. 


\|?SAAC  NEWTON  VANNATTA,  residing  on 
section  34,  Lafayette  Township,  is  the  descend- 
ant of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the  count}'. 
He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Lucy  (Gibbs).  Van- 
natta,  and  was  born  at  Mock's  Point,  Cumberland 
Co.,  111.,  June  16,  1844. 

Samuel  Vannatta  was  a  native  of  Fail-field,  Ohio. 
He  was  the  son  of  Aaron  and  Nancy  Vannatta,  and 
in  1816  his  parents  emigrated  to  the  Territory  of 
Illinois.  They  made  their  home  in  Lawrence  County, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  State. 
They  encountered  many  privations  and  trials  in 
those  early  days.  The  country  was  almost  an  un- 
broken wilderness;  there  were  no  school  advantages 
for  the  children,  and  the  neighboring  families  were 
separated  by  wide  stretches  of  lonely  prairie,  or 
desolate  woodland.  Samuel  assisted  his  father  in 
breaking  the  new  land,  burning  brush  and  cutting 
timber,  finding  little  time  or  opportunity  for  men- 
tal cultivation.  In  1827  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Gibbs  took  place.  Mrs.  Vannatta  was  born 
Jan.  5,  1809,  in  New  York,  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  her  father,  Klijah  Gibbs,  who  was  among  the 
pioneers  of  Coles  County,  having  settled  there  in 
1827. 

•Mr.  Yannatta  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Cum- 
berland County  until  1853,  when  he  removed 
to  Coles  County  and  settled  in  Lafayette  Township. 
lie  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  there,  and  died. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THt 

:"i:!VERsiiY  OF  ILLIMOIS 


I 


COLES   COUNTY. 


267 


May  o,  1881,  having  long  survived  his  wife,  whose 
death  occurred  Jan.  5,  1865.  The}'  had  a  family  of 
ten  children  horn  to  them,  eight  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity. 

Isaac  Vannatta  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  acquired  a  practical  experience  in  the  de- 
tails of  farm  labor,  and  also  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade.  In  September,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Nancy  Mary  Frakes.  Mrs.  Vannatta  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Elizabeth  Frakes,  and  was  born  in 
Indiana,  June  16,  1851.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vannatta 
have  nine  children,  all  of  whom,  with  one  exception, 
are  now  living.  Their  names  are  as  follows:  Dan- 
iel Voorhees,  Robert  Allen,  Benjamin  Franklin, 
Homer  Gibbs,  John  Milton,  Elijah  Hubbard,  George 
Elmer  and  Lucy.  Mr.  Vannatta  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  by 
that  party.  His  wife  and  himself  are  members  of 
the  hard-shell  Baptist  Church. 


-*- 


ffiOHN  S.  SARGENT,  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive farmers  of  Hutton  Township,  is  the 
owner  of  nearly  600  acres  of  land,  two- 
thirds  of  which  is  under  a  high  cultivation 
and  the  balance  in  valuable  timber  land.  He  has 
one  of  the  finest  residences  iu  his  locality.  It  was 
erected  in  1884,  and  is  situated  on  a  gentle  rise  of 
ground  which  commands  a  fine  view  of  the  sur- 
rounding country.  Mr.  Sargent  has  given  much 
aitentioi.  to  the  raising  of  fine  stock,  and  is  in  all 
respects  a  model  agriculturist  and  citizen,  and  has 
materially  assisted  in  the  development  of  the  re- 
sources of  Central  Illinois,  and  has  had  much  to 
do  in  shaping  its  moral  and  educational  welfare. 

Our  subject  is  the  descendant  of  an  excellent 
family.  His  father,  Stephen  Sargent,  was  born  in 
Candia,  N.  H.,  July  1,  1797,  and  when  thirteen 
years  of  age  traveled  with  his  father  to  a  point  in 
New  Jersey,  near  the  New  York  line,  where  the 
parent  left  the  child  and  was  never  seen  or  heard 
from  afterward.  The  boy,  after  recovering  from 
his  dismay  and  astonishment,  set  out  to  look  for 
work,  in  which  he  was  successful,  and  maintained 
himself  in  that  locality  for  the  following  three  years. 
He  then  traveled  on  foot  to  Ohio,  remaining  one  year 


in  the  Buckeye  State,  then,  going  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  stonemason.  There  he  also 
purchased  an  interest  in  a  flatboat,  with  which  he 
made  a  few  trips  to  New  Orleans  and  back,  and  in 
1836  migrated  to  this  State,  locating  at  New  Rich- 
mond, now  Weste'rfield,  in  Clark  Count}'.  There 
he  engaged  in  general  merchandising,  and  some 
years  later  purchased  a  farm  upon  which  he  re- 
moved and  remained  until  his  death.  He  pros- 
pered greatly  and  became  the  owner  of  600  acres 
of  land,  a  portion  of  which  was  willed  to  his  son, 
our  subject. 

Stephen  Sargent  was  married  late  in  life  to  Nancy 
(Chenoweth)  Ilarland,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rebecca  (Rose)  Chenoweth.  and  the  widow  of 
Jacob  Harland,  the  wedding  taking  place  Oct.  18, 
1842.  Mrs  S.  was  born  March  25.  1805,  in  Jeffer- 
son County,  Ky.,  and  is  still  living  on  the  old 
homestead.  Her  parents  were  natives  respectively 
of  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  and  by  her  union  with 
:  Mr.  Sargentshe  became  the  mother  of  two  children  : 
i  Margaret  R.,  and  John  S.,  of  our  sketch.  The  for- 
mer, who  is  now  deceased,  married  Charles  II.  Rice 
and  became  the  mother  of  six  children,  of  whom 
only  two  are  living — Carrie  E.  and  H.  C.  The 
death  of  Stephen  Sargent  took  place  at  his  hOme 
in  Hutton  Township,  Nov.  30,  1878,  after  he  had 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years,  four 
months  and  thirty  days.  He  had  been  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  Coles  County  and  the  funeral 
services  were  attended  by  a  large  concourse  i-f 
people,  who  gathered  to  pay  their  respects  to  one 
of  the  most  highly  valued  citizens  of  the  county. 
We  have  already  detailed  the  incidents  of  his 
early  life.  He.  was  married  when  forty-five  years 
of  age  and  up  to  that  time  had  taken  but  little 
interest  in  religious  matters..  He  then  became 
interested  in  the  theories  of  Swedenborg  and  was 
satisfied  that  his  doctrines  the  most  nearly  coin- 
cided with  his  ideas  upon  these  important  subjects, 
and  to  these  he  adhered  thereafter.  Upon  being 
compelled  by  failing  health  to  abandon  active 
labor,  he  devoted  the  funds  which  afterward 
accumulated  from  various  sources  in  assisting  men 
without  means  to  secure  homes,  and  seldom  closed 
an  interview  with  anyone  without  touching  upon 
religious  subjects  and  endeavoring  to  impress  the 


r 


f. 


268 


COLES    COUNTY. 


truth  he  held  dear  upon  others.  lie  entertained  pecu- 
liar views  in  regard  to  woman  suffrage,  arguing 
that  as  husband  and  wife  were  one,  their  names 
should  be  received  only  as  one  vote.  He  would 
require  intelligence  and  respectability,  and  that  the 
Legislative  proceedings  should  be  attended  and 
watched  over  by  the  wives  of  the  Legislators.  He 
sincerely  believed  that  these  measures  would  in 
due  time  become  necessary  for  the  preservation  of 
the  nation.  He  left  to  his  son  and  daughter  the 
duty  of  distributing  each  year  where  they  were 
likely  to  do  the  most  good,  $100  worth  of  books 
pertaining  to  Swedenborgian  doctrines. 

The  first  husband  of  Mrs.  Stephen  Sargent, 
Jacob  Ilarland  by  name,  was  born  in  Warren 
Count}',  Ohio,  Feb.  18,  1799,  and  was  married  to 
Miss  Chcnoweth,  Nov.  7,  1822.  Ilis  death  took 
place  iu  Clark  County,  111.,  Aug.  7,  1830.  The 
five  children  of  this  marriage  were  Burns;  Louisa, 
who  married  John  Short  and  is  a  resident  of 
Charleston;  Amanda,  who  died  in  October.  1830: 
George,  who  died  in  Springfield,  111.,  after  serving 
as  a  Union  soldier,  and  Martin  C.,  a  resident  of 
Outline  County,  Iowa.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Kentucky  and  emigrated  to  Vin- 
ceunes,  Ind.,  with  her  parents  when  a  young  lady, 
riding  on  a  pack  saddle  the  greater  part  of  the  way. 
The  family  afterward  removed  to  Clark  County, 
this  State,  where  she  was  married  to  and  resided 
with  Mr.  Harlaud  until  his  dentil.  John  Chenoweth, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  S.,  was  born  March  15,  1780, 
and  died  in  Clark  County,  111.,  March  18,  1855. 
Ilis  wife,  Rebecca,  was  born  Jan.  18,  1785,  and 
died  July  17,  1846.  They  were  buried  in  the  old 
family  cemetery  on  the  homestead  in  Clark  County. 

John  S.  Sargent  received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation and  remained  with  his  parents  until  after  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
C,  68th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  assigned  to  patrol 
duty  around  Washington  and  Alexandria.  He  was 
then  but  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  remained  in  the 
army  until  the  close  of  the  war.  After  receiving 
his  honorable  discharge  he  returned  home  and  took 
charge  of  his  father's  farm,  and  on  the  24th  of 
March,  1870,  wns  married  to  Miss  Mann  A.  Turner. 
.Mrs.  Sargent  was  born  June  3,  1848,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  J.  Turner, 


natives  Of  Kentucky.  Of  her  union  with  our  sub- 
ject there  have  beeji  eight  children  born,  namely  : 
Margaret  P.,  born  Jan.  28,  1871;  Jessie  R.,  April 
23,  1873;  Ernest,  born  Feb.  20,  1874,  and  died 
Aug.  23,  1876;  Ada  O.,  born  Sept.  15,  1875; 
Coral  T..  Jan.  15,  1878;  Paul  T.,  July  23,  1880; 
St.  John,  March  23,  1  884,  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy unnamed. 

Mr.  Sargent  has  been  prominently  connected 
with  township  matters  since  reaching  manhood, 
holding  the  offices  of  School  Director  and  Trustee, 
and  casting  his  influence  upon  the  side  of  prohibi- 
tion. He  was  a  candidate  for  State  Senator  on  the 
Prohibition  ticket  in  1884,  and  is  at  present  Chair- 
man of  the  County  Committee.  With  his  family 
he  belongs  to  the  New  Jerusalem  Church.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sargent  removed  to  Urbana,  Ohio,  to 
educate  their  children  at  the  university.  This 
being  accomplished  they  returned  to  the  farm, 
where  our  subject  experiences  no  greater  pleasure 
in  life  than  watching  the  products  of  the  seasons 
and  embellishing  his  homestead  as  his 'means  and 
tastes  may  dictate. 


OHN  STOKES,  an  aged  and  retired  farmer, 
now  a  resident  of  -Oakland  Village,  came  to 
Illinois  in  the  spring  of  1840,  and  located  in 
Edgar  County,  where  he  purchased  fifteen 
acres  of  land  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1849  he 
moved  to  near  the  Edgar  and  Coles  County  line, 
where  he  engaged  in  brick-making  and  general  farm- 
ing one  season. 

Mr.  Stokes  commenced  life  in  a  humble  manner, 
and  when  setting  out  for  himself  possessed  a  cash 
capital  of  twenty-five  cents.  He  labored  hard, 
lived  economically,  and  is  now  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous property  holders  of  Coles  County,  who  is  en- 
abled to  live  comfortably  upon  the  fruits  of  his 
early  industry.  Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Halifax 
County,  Va..  was  born  Sept.  2,  1799,  and  is  conse- 
quently advanced  a  long  distance  on  the  journey  of 
life.  His  parents,  Samuel  and  Mary  (Gentry) 
Stokes,  were  also  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion, 
whence  they  removed  to  North  Carolina,  where  the 
death  of  both  took  place.  The  children  of  the  par- 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


209 


'ental  household,  eight  in  number,  were  named  re- 
spectively, John,  Richard.  Elizabeth,  Henry,  Will- 
iam, Samuel,  James  and  Mary. 

John  Stokes  remained  under  the  home  roof  until 
reaching  his  majority,  and  was  subsequently  occu- 
pied in  farming.  When  thirty  years  of  age  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lntitia  Allen,  the 
wedding  taking  place  in  Wayne  County,  Ind.,  in 
1829.  Mrs.  Stokes  was  born  in  South  Carolina, 
June  22.  1810,  and  by  her  union  with  our  subject 
became  the  mother  of  eleven  children :  Richard 
was  married  three  times,  and  is  now  living  in  Edgar 
Count}' ;  George  W.  died  when  eighteen  months 
old;  Samuel,  when  four  weeks  old ;  Mary  A.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Benjamin  Timmons,  and  departed 
this  life  at  the  home  of  her  husband  in  Edgar 
County,  in  1877;  John  W.  married  Miss  Rosa  E. 
Slater,  and  lives  in  Oakland ;  Susan,  the  wife  of 
Ambrose  Bandy,  lives  in  Oakland;  James  K.  P. 
married  Miss  Meliuda  Wright,  and  is  living  near 
Oakland;  Lev!  is  deceased;  Ellen  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Gobart,  of  this  county,  and  Alma  married 
Mr.  Sherman,  of  Moultrie  County.  Mr.  Stokes  re- 
moved from  his  native  State  to  Indiana,  and  thence 
to  Illinois  in  1X40.  He  meddles  very  little  in  pub- 
lic affairs,  but  usually  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 
Mrs.  Stokes  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  with  which  she  became  connected  sixteen 
years  ago. 

John  W.  Stokes,  the  second  son  of  our  subject, 
owns  seventy  acres  of  land  in  Oakland  Township, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  tine  horses. 
He  received  the  advantages  of  a  common-school  ed- 
ucation, spent  a  few  months  in  teaching,  and  after- 
ward engaged  in  farming  on  eighty  acres  of  land, 
ten  of  which  he  afterward  sold.  He  was  married, 
Dec.  10,  1874,  to  Miss  Rosa  E.  Slater,  who  was  born 
in  Loudoun  County,  Va.,  Nov.  18,  .1854,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  John  G.  and  Ann  (Rush)  Slater, 
natives  of  Loudoun  County,  Ya.  They  have  three 
children:  Flora  M.,  born  May  7,  1870;  Bertha  E., 
Jan.  18,  1878,  and  Wrillis  V.,  Nov.  13,  1879.  Mr. 
Stokes,  in  1880,  spent  two  months  in  Florida  on  a 
business  speculation,  but  meeting  with  better  results 
in  Illinois  concluded  to  abandon  Southern  enter- 
prises and  remain  in  the  Prairie  State.  lie  has  a. 
line  assortment  of  draft  horses  and  mules,  and  is 


quite  successful  in  his  present  calling.  He  has  been 
School  Director  for  several  years,  is  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  and,  like  his  father,  is 
a  stanch  Democrat. 


yiLLIAM  II.  THORNTON,  deceased,    well 
known     to    the    agricultural    community 
of    Humbolt   Township  for    a    period   of 
twenty-five  years,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising,  was  a  native  of  Huddersfield,  York- 
shire, England,  born  Nov.  20,  1837,  and  departed 
this  life  at  his  home  in    Humbolt   Township,  Oct. 
29,  1879. 

Mr.  Thornton  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  three 
children  born  to  John  and  Maria  (Mallinson) 
Thornton,  natives  of  England,  who  emigrated  to 
America  in  1842,  and  settled  in  Cook  County,  this 
State,  where  the  father  followed  carpentering  and 
cabinet-making.  He  also  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
where  William  II.  was  reared.  The  latter  received 
a  good  education,  completing  his  studies  in 
the  schools  of  Chicago.  He  remained  at  home 
until  nearly  twenty-one  years  of  age,  then  returned 
to  England  and  spent  six  months  visiting  among 
his  old  friends  and  acquaintances.  After  coming 
back  to  the  United  States  he  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  in  a  suburb  of  Chicivgo  for  a  short 
time,  but  this  being  uusuited  to  his  tastes  lie  sold 
his  stock  of  goods  and  coining  to  Coles  County, 
purchased  sixty-four  acres  of  wild  iand  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  for  seven  years 
thereafter  was  industriously  engaged  in  its  improve- 
ment an.d  cultivation. 

Mr.  Thornton  was  married  rather  late  in  life  on 
the  8th  of  June,  1809,  to  Miss.  Mary  G.  Jaquess, 
third  child  of  Ashhury  C.  and  Jane  (Ashworth) 
Jaquess,  natives  respectively  of  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children.  They  removed  from  the  South  to  Indi- 
ana during  its  early  settlement,  their  daughter 
Mary  being  bom  in  Posey  County,  Jan.  30,  1842. 
She  came  to  Coles  County  to  visit  friends  and 
there  met  our  subject.  After  their  marriage  they 
took  up  their  residence  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Thorn- 
ton. lie  had  never  been  robust  in  health  and  not 


T 


L  >    270 


COLES    COUNTY. 


long  after  liis  marriage  found   his  strength    unable 
to  meet  the  hard  demands   of  labor  on  the  farm. 

> 

He  had  added  eighty  acres  to  his  original  purchase, 
but  in  1877  rented  the  entire  farm,  and  crossing 
the  Mississippi  settled  down  in  Wichita,  Kan., 
where,  with  his  wife  who  had  accompanied  him,  he 
resided  nearly  two  years.  The  change  at  first 
seemed  beneficial  but  a  severe  attack  of  measles 
shattered  his  constitution  beyond  its  power  to  re- 
cover. He  returned  lo  his  old  home  in  Illinois 
and  there  closed  his  eyes  upon  the  scenes  of  earth. 
The  life  and  character  of  Mr.  Thornton  had 
been  such  as  commended  him  to  the  good-will  and 
affection  of  a  large  circle  of  friends.  He  was  up- 
right and  conscientious  in  his  dealings,  and  for  many 
years  prominently  connected  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  as  Class- Leader  and  Trustee.  lie 
built  up  for  himself  a  good  record  and  his  name  is 
held  in  kindly  remembrance  by  all  who  knew  him. 
lie  left  a  widow  and  three  children,  the  latter  named 
respectively,  James,  Wilbur  and  Nellie.  Their 
second  child,  a  little  daughter  named  Flora,  died 
at  the  age  of  five  years  while  her  parents  were 
residents  of  Wichita.  Mrs.  Thornton  continues 
on  the  farm  with  her  family,  and  with  the  aid  of 
her  sons  carries  it  on  in  a  commendable  and 
profitable  manner.  She  1s  carrying  out  as  far  as 
possible  the  wishes  and  plans  of  her  late  lamented 
husband,  carefully  superintending  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil,  and  giving  her  attention  to  stock-rais- 
ing. She  also  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  an  active  worker  therein. 


BIJAII  D.  NEAL,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of 
llulton  Township,  is  comfortably  located 
on  section  23.  and  carrying  on  the  various 
departments  of  his  chosen  calling  with  in- 
telligence and  success.  He  is  a  native  of  the  lilne 
Grass  regions,  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  Pel). 
11,  1822,  and  is  the  descendant  of  Jacob  Neal, 
well  known  in  that  section,  where  he  built  up  a  good 
home  and  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a 
carpenter  and  powder-maker.  He  was  born  March 
24,  1747,  and  died  in  his  native  county,  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.  His  wife  was  formerly  Miss.  Ann 

«• 


Yeamin,  who  was  born  Nov.  11,  1751,  and  they 
were  married  Dec.  4,  1772.  They  became  the 
parents  of  a  line  family  of  sons  aild  daughters,  all 
of  whom  reached  maturity  and  among  whom  was 
John  T.,  the  father  of  our  subject. 

John  T.  Neal  was  the  youngest  son  of  Jacob  and 
Ann  (Yeamin)  Neal,  and  was  born  Sept.  o,  1795, 
in  Bourbon  County,  Ky.  His  younger  days  were 
spent  at  home  with  his  parents  and  his  schooling 
was  very  good  for  those  days.  After  reaching 
manhood  and  making  his  preparations  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  home  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Nancy  Darnels,  who  was  born  April  18.  17U(!, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
(Rohie)  Darnels,  natives  of  Maryland.  The  young 
people  after  their  marriage  continued  in  Bourbon- 
County  until  1827,  then  came  to  Crawford  County, 
this  State,  where  the  death  of  the  father  occurred 

;.  in  1832,  when  he  was  but  thirty-seven  3'ears  of  age. 
lie  had  improved  his  opportunities  for  gaining  in- 
formation and  taught  school  several  seasons  after 
coming  to  Illinois.  The  mother  survived  her  hus- 
band over  forty  years,  her  death  taking  place  Sept. 
27,  1874,  at  the  home  of  Lowery,  in  Clark  County, 
Illinois. 

The  six  children  of  the  parental  family  were: 
Crauville  D.,  who  died  May  26,  1880;  James,  who 
also  died  young;  Mary;  A.  D.,  of  our  sketch; 

!  Joseph  T.  and  Elizabeth.  Our  subject  was  the 
sixth  child  of_the  family,  and  with  his  brothers  and 
sisters  received  simply  a  common-school  education, 
lie  was  but  eleven  years  of  age  when  his  father 
died  and  continued  with  his  mother  until  his  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  when  he  was  twenty.  The 
maiden  of  his  choice  was  Miss  Eveline  Reed,  and 
the  wedding  took  place  at  the  home  qf  the  bride 
Jan.  27.  1842.  Mrs.  Neal  was  born  Dec.  20,  1820, 
in  Kentucky,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  Reed,  natives  of  Virginia.  The  young 
people  after  marriage  settled  in  Hutton  Township, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1844  removed  to  the  place 
which  they  now  occupy.  Mr.  N.  in  the  spring  of 
1839,  had  entered  eighty  acres  of  timber  land  and 
now  commenced  opening  up  a  farm,  cutting  down 
a  large  quantity  of  timber,  and  after  much  labor  had 
prepared  the  greater  portion  for  cultivation.  The 
change  since  that  time  has  indeed  been  great.  The 


i 


COLES   COUNTY. 


271 


household  was  gradually  enlarged  by  the  birth  of 
children,  of  whom  the  record  is  as  follows:  Owen 
C.,  born  Feb.  19,'  1843,  when  a  youth  of  nineteen 
years,  during  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War,  en- 
listed in  Co.  K,  123d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Oct.  8,  1862;  Mary  E-, 
born  Dec.  19,  1844,  .became  the  wife  of  Chris 
Stanbury,  and  is  residing  with  her  husband  in  Hut- 
ton  Township;  John  T.  was  born  Aug.  17,  1847; 
Samuel  D.,Dec.  3,  1849 ;  Vincent  T.,  Feb.  10,  1852; 
.Martin  P.,  Oct.  11,  1854;  Hannah.  M.,  the  wife  of 
Napoleon  Phipps,  Oct.  26, 1856,  and  James  E.,  May 
21,  1860.  "In  about  1864,  Mr.  Neal  met  with  a 
serious  and  almost  fatal  accident  by  a  wagon  up- 
setting with  a  log  upon  it,  pinning  him  to  the 
ground  and  nearly  crushing  the  life  out  of  him. 
He  was  laid  up  a  year  on  account  of  this,  but  has 
now  mostly  recovered  from  its  effects. 

Our  subject  meddles  very  little  with  politics  and 
has  repeatedly  declined  office,  although  consenting 
to  serve  his  township  in  local  matters.  He  votes 
the  straight  Republican  ticket.  Mrs.  Neal  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

,  EV.  SAMUEL  MILLS,  one  of  the  well-known 
figures  passing  in  and  out  among  the  peo- 
ple of  Hutton  Township,  has  been  a  resi- 
Ident  of  Central  Illinois  for  the  past  twenty- 
one  years,  and  is  proprietor  of  one  of  the  finest 
homesteads  in  Coles  Caunty.  His  residence  stands 
upon  the  highest  point  of  land  between  the  Wabash 
and  Mississippi  Rivers  and  commands  a  line  view 
of  the  surrounding  country,  which  comprises  a 
beautiful  landscape,  stretching  away  fifteen' miles 
to  the  south  over  the  Parker  Prairie,  including  a 
delightful  valley  with  just  enough  of  wood  and 
water  to  make  one  of  the  fairest  pictures  ever  pre- 
sented to  the  eye.  The  farm  has  been  brought  to 
a  good  state  of  cultivation  and  the  buildings  in- 
clude a  handsome  dwelling,  a  substantial  barn,  and 
all  the  other  appliances  of  a  first-class  country 
estate.  Mr.  Mills  has  been  largely  instrumental  in 
effecting  these  improvements  and  deserves  great 
credit  for  the  taste  and  enterprise  which  have  char- 
acterized his  labors. 

Our    subject    is  the  descendant  of  an  excellent 


Southern  family,  his  grandfather,  Ethelbert  Mills, 
having  been  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he  obtained 
a  classical  education,  and  for  many  years  afterward 
carried  on  the  trade  of  a  hatter.  He  married  the 
daughter  of  Capt.  Charles  Wells,  and  there  were 
born  four  children,  a  daughter,  Mary,  and  three 
sons.  Two  of  the  latter  served  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  one  died  at  Pueblo,  Mex.  Hiram  was  a 
Christian  preacher,  and  Nicholas  a  blacksmith  by 
trade.  Samuel  C.  was  the  father  of  our  subject, 
and  Charles,  a  minister  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  traveled  in  its  interests  for  a  period 
of  twenty-five  years. 

Grandfather  Mills  left  his  native  State  in  about 
1812,  or  during  the  war  of  that  period,  and  emi- 
grating to  Perry  County,  Ind.,  bought  a  tract  of 
heavily  timbered  land,  a  part  of  which  he  cleared 
and  occupied  a  few  years,  then  removed  to  Dubois 
County,  where  he  passed  the  last  years  of  his  life. 
He  survived  his  wife  several  years,  and  both  were 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Huntingburg.  The 
Mills  family  were  of  English  origin,  and  the  pa- 
ternal grandmother  was  of  German  descent.  Her 
son.  Samuel  C.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  Feb.  2,  1792,  and  received  a  common- 
school  education.  While  a  young  man  he  learned 
the  hatter's  trade  of  his  father,  which,  however,  he 
only  followed  for  a  brief  time,  his  tastes  inclining 
him  to  a  more  active  life.  When  twenty-two  years 
old  he  entered  the  army  as  a  substitute,  receiving 
for  his  services  two  laud  grants.  'After  serving 
out  his  term  of  enlistment,  he  returned  to  his 
father's  for  a  time,  but  re-enlisted  in  the  regular 
army  and  was  detailed  to  duty,  running  on  the 
Mississippi  River.  After  serving  his  time  and  being 
discharged,  he  purchased  a  boat  and  began  trading 
with  the  settlers  up  and  down  the  Father  of  Waters, 
and  was  thus  employed  until  his  marriage.  The 
lady  of  his  choice  was  Miss  Lucinda  Main,  who 
became  his  wife  in  1818,  the  wedding  taking  place 
at  Cannelton,  Perry  Co.,  Ind.  Mrs.  M.  was  born 
in  Lu/erne  County,  Pa.,  Aug.  30,  1802.  Her 
parents,  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  re- 
moved to  Perry  County,  Ind.,  during  the  early 
settlement  of  the  State,  and  were  numbered  among 
its  most  honored  pioneers.  After  marriage,  Mr. 
Mills  followed  his  trade  at  Cannelton  a  few  years, 


4 


•272 


COLES    COUNTY. 


1 


tlii-n  purchased  a  tract  of  heavily  limbered  land  in 
Duhois  County  and  began  opening  up  a  farm.  He 
erected  a  comfortable  house  with  a  good  barn  and 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  for  ten  years 
thereafter.  Then,  selling  out,  he  removed  to  a 
point  near  Vincennes  in  order  to  give  his  children 
the  better  advantages  of  the  schools  of  that  section. 
This  proved  his  final  home  and  where  his  death 
took  place,  Nov.  18,  1871. 

The  father  of  our  subject  fought  in  the  noted 
battle  .of  New  Orleans,  Jan.  8,  1815,  and  for  his 
bravery  during  his  whole  career  as  a  soldier,  re- 
ceived the  approval  of  his  superior  officers  and  the 
respect  of  his  comrades.  Notwithstanding  his  some- 
what changeful  life,  he  preserved  the  high  moral 
principles  in  which  he  had  been  trained  from  child- 
hood, and  for  a  period  of  thirty-five  years  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
He  was  reared  a  Catholic  and  debarred  from  read- 
ing the  Bible,  but  determined  that  he  would  pro- 
cure a  copy,  and  for  this  purpose  rode  from  Dnbois 
County  to  Troy,  in  Perry  County,  a  distance  of 
over  forty  miles,  returning  with  the  coveted  prize. 
This  book  is  now  preserved  by  his  son  as  one  of 
the  most  precious  relics  of  the  past.  The  home  of 
Samuel  Mills,  Sr.,  was  the  abiding-place  of  the 
traveling  ministers  journeying  through  that  sec- 
tion, and  his  support  and  influence  were  uniformly 
given  to  the  encouragement  of  the  Gospel.  In 
early  manhood  he  belonged  to  the  old  Whig  party, 
but  afterward  cordially  endorsed  the  principles  of 
the  Republicans.  The  wife  of  his  youth  died  in 
May,  1 858,  while  they  were  residents  of  Knox 
County,  Ind.  She  was  a  lady  highly  esteemed  in 
her. community,  and  the  active  sympathizer  of  her 
husband  in  his  religious  views,  belonging  with  him 
to  the  United  Brethren  Church.  Their  thirteen 
children  were  Mary  Ann,  Allatha.  John  C.,  Nicho- 
las, Lucinda,  Samuel,  of  our  sketch,  Rachael,  Sarah, 
Hannibal,  Charles,  Harriet  and  James  (twins),  and 
Martha  Jane.  The  second  wife  of  Samuel  Mills, 
Sr..  was  formerly  Miss  Mary  Overby,  who  survived 
him  about  five  years.  Hannibal  and  Charles  Mills 
served  in  the  late  war  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Grant  in  Missouri,  and  were  present  at  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg.  Their  regiment  was  captured  by  the 
rebels,  but  the  Mills  boys  .made  their  escape. 


James  marched  with  Sherman  in   his    famous  cam- 
paign from  Atlanta  to  the  sea. 

Samuel  Mills  was  born  in  Dubois  County,  Ind., 
June  13,  1831,  and  was  the  third  sou  of  his  father 
by  his  first  marriage.  He  received  only  the  advan- 
tages of  the  pioneer  schools  and  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  reaching  his  majority,  be- 
coming familiar  with  the  various  duties  of  farm 
life.  Soon  after  attaining  manhood,  March  25, 
1852,  he- was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  William  Carpenter,  of  Kentucky.  She  was  born 
in  Indiana.  The  young  people,  after  their  mar- 
riage, located  on  a  tract  of  land  near  the  Mills 
homestead,  where  our  subject  had  purchased  forty 
acres,  which,  added  to  the  same  amount  which  his 
father  had  given  him,  constituted  a  snug  farm 
which  he  occupied  until  the  spring  of  1858.  The 
work,  howevei,  was  performed  by  employes,  while 
our  subject  engaged  in  teaching  and  studying  for 
the  ministry.  Upon  this  place  his  two  oldest  chil- 
dren were  born,  and  here  the  mother  died  March 
25,  1858.  His  eldest  son,  Sylvester  II. ,  born  Jan. 
2,  1853,  married  Miss  Parker,  of  Crawford  County, 
111.,  and  is  farming  in  Elk  County,  Kan.;  Erminda, 
born  Oct.  10,  1854,  is  the  wife  of  James  Boyer.  a 
farmer  of  Clark  County,  III. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Mills  began  the 
life  of-  an  itinerant  minister,  but  in  due  time  was 
located  where  he  continued  until  the  spring  of 
1861.  He  was  here  married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  (Mason) 
Cummings,  March  14,  185i).  Mrs.  M.  was  born  in 
Knox  County,  Ind.,  April  7,  1830,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Bennett  and  Mary  Mason,  natives  of 
Kentucky.  Her  father  was  born  in  June,  1790, 
and  died  May  12,  1873.  The  mother,  born  Feb. 
14,  1795,  died  Sept.  29,  1872.  Both  were  buried 
in  Maple  Bluff  Cemetery,  in  Knox  County,  Ind. 
Mr.  Mills  was  for  some  time  afterward  employed 
in  mission  fields,  and  in  the  spring  of  18C3  was 
I  elected  Presiding  Elder  and  became  agent  for 
;  Westfield  College,  in  the  interests  of  which  he  has 
I  since  labored.  From  1 804  until  the  fall  of  T881, 
|  he  was  a  resident  of  Westfield.  Then,  his  sons, 
having  become  old  enough  to  employ  their  time 
profitably  on  a  farm,  he  purchased  ninety-six  and 
one-half  acres,  which  constitutes  the  homestead, 
and  which  the  boys  have  since  managed  with  ex- 


f 


C'OLKS    COUNTY. 


eellcnt  judgment.  Mr.  Mills  also  has  eighty  acres 
five  miles  distant  from  the  home  farm. 

The  children  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  nine  in 
number,  are  recorded  as  follows:  I  via  E.,  imni 
Dec.  21,  18.3'.),  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  K.  Il.Shuey,  and 
the  mother  of  two  children:  they  are  residents  of 
Clark  County,  Mr.  S.  having  charge  of  Shiloh  Mis- 
sion. Alexander  H.,  born  Oct.  23,  l.siJl,  died  when 
not  quite  three  years  old;  Charles  W.  was  born 
March  20,  1864;  Jennie  ,1.,  born  Sent.  5,  1866,  be- 
came the  wife  of  J.  Pickrell,  and  died  Feb.  1 2. 
1886;  Willie  N.  was  born  Nov.  3.  1868;  Samuel, 
born  July  23,  1870,  died  Feb.  23,  1871  ;  Franklin 
A.  was  burn  Feb.  24,  1872:  Marsh  K.,  March  2, 
1875,  and  Harry  Pearl,  April  22,  1877. 

Mr.  Mills  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Westfield  College  for  a  period  of 
twenty-three  years,  being  much  of  the  time  Presi- 
dent, which  office  he  now  holds.  He  has  been  one 
of  the  most  aetive  laborers  for  that  college,  which 
is  under  the  supervision  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  During  the  General  Conference,  which 
meets  once  in  four  years,  he  is  usually  delegated  to 
legislative  duties,  and  possesses  the  ability  which 
has  rendered  him  almost  indispensable  in  connec- 
tion with  Westfield  College  and  the  Church  at 
AVestfield.  He  has  always  supported  Republican 
principles,  and  is  one  of  those  citizens  whose  place 
in  the  community  could  scarcely  be  filled  as  well 
bv  anv  other  man. 


ANIEL  CAMPBELL,  of  Oakland  Town- 
Ij  ship,  made  his;  advent  into  this  State  nearly 
forty-four  years  ago,  when  a  young  child, 
with  his  parents,  who  came  by  team  to 
Edgar  County  in  1844.  His  father  entered  eighty 
acres  of  land  from  the  Government,  and  afterward 
purchased  enough  to  make  a  farm  of  150  acres, 
upon  which  he  has  continuously  resided  since  that 
time.  The  homestead  proper  is  pleasantly  located 
in  Oakland  Township,  on  section  28,  where,  of  late 
years,  in  addition  to  general  fanning,  he  has  given 
much  attention  to  the  breeding  of  fine;  stock,  in 
which  he  has  met  with  more  than  ordinary  success. 
During  his  long  residence  in  this  section  he  has 


fully  established  himself  in  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  has  become  one 
of  the  landmarks  whose  place  can  scarcely  be  filled 
when  he  shall  have  been  gathered  to  his  fathers. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Fletcher,  Miami  Co., 
Ohio,  Aug.  10,  184-1, -and  is  the  son  of  Abram  and 
Martha  (Luce)  Campbell,  natives  respectively  of 
Virginia  and  Ohio.  Abram  Campbell  was  born  in 
1813,  and  the  mother  in  1815.  Both  are  now  in 
Edgar  County.  The  parental  family  included 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  Elizabeth 
and  Ann  are  deceased ;  the  latter  was  the  wife  of 
I.  N.  Ward,  and  dierl  in  Edgar  County,  111.;  Judia 
became  the  wife  of  Ezekiel  Brading;  Daniel,  of 
our  sketch,  was  the  fourth  child ;  Hester  became 
the  second  wife  of  I.  N.  Ward,  and  lives  in  this 
county;  Sarah  married  Ezra  Bear;  Clara  Jane 
married  John  Hodge;  Benjamin  L.  was  killed 
when  about  sixteen  years  of  age  by  being  thrown 
from  a  horse. 

Daniel  Campbell  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
State  when  but  an  infant,  and  remained  on  the 
farm  of  his  father  until  reaching  his  majority.  He 
was  then  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  J. 
Davis,  their  wedding  taking  place  on  Christmas 
Day,  in  1862,  Rev.  William  Shields,  a  Baptist 
clergyman  of  Edgar  County,  officiating.  Mrs. 
Campbell  was  born  near  Martinsville  in  Clark- 
County,  111.,  Jan.  24,  1844,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Clarinda  (Craig)  Davis,  natives  of 
Kentuck3r.  They  removed  from  the  Blue  Grass 
regions  to  this  State  during  its  early  settlement,  be- 
fore their  marriage.  After  this  event  Mr.  Davis 
purchased  a  tract  of  land,  from  which  he  built  up 
a  good  farm,  and  which  he  occupied  until  the  death 
of  his  second  wife.  He  afterward  married  Mrs. 
Lamb,  of  Edgar  County,  and  with  her  took  up  his 
residence  in  that  county,  where  his  death  occurred 
in  the  spring  of  1871.  He  was  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  both  parents 
possessed  those  qualities  which  secured  them  the 
profound  respect  of  those  who  knew  them. 

Mr.  Campbell  became  a  resident  of  Oakland 
Township  in  1H75,  and  located  upon  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres,  where  he  has  since  followed  mixed 
husbandry  and  become  a  valued  addition  to  the 
farming  Community,  The  household  of  our  sub- 


T 


4 


27.4 


COLES    COUNTY. 


ject  and  his  estimable  lady  was  completed  by  the 
birth  of  tun  children,  namely,  Sarah  K.,  now  de- 
ceased;  Thomas  A.,  Benjamin  L.,  Martha  A., 
William  A.  and  Harriet  A.,  deceased,  Estella  E., 
Susan  C.,  Lawrence  C.,  and  a  twin  brother  of  the 
latter  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  united  with  the  Baptist  Church 
about  fourteen  years  ago,  and  are  among  its  most 
valued  members.  Our  subject  is  a  Jeffersonian 
Democrat,  fearless  in  the  expression  of  his  opinions, 
and  uniformly  upholding  that  which  he  esteems  to 
be  just  and  right. 


AMES  H.  WILLIAMS,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  stock-grower  of  Paradise  Township, 
,  was  born  June  12,  1828,  in  Culpeper  Coun- 
ty,  Va.,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Templer)  Williams,  natives  of  Virginia. 
William  Williams  was  the  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Whitescaver)  Williams,  who  were  likewise 
natives  of  Virginia.  Elizabeth  Templer  was  the 
daughtep  of  James  and  Martha  Templer,  both  of 
whom  belonged  to  old  Virginia  families. 

In  early  life  William  Williams  enlisted  as  Captain 
and  served  during  a  greater  part  of  the  War  of 
1812.  He  left  his  native  State,  and  turned  west- 
ward, when  about  fifty-two  years  of  age,  and  set- 
tled in  Knox  County,  Ohio.  After  passing  twelve 
years  there  he  resolved  to  push  still  farther  West, 
and  accordingly  removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Coles  County,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  was  an  active,  energetic  man,  closely 
identified  with  political  affairs,  and  a  stanch  Demo- 
crat. 

When  about  nineteen  years  of  age,  James  Will- 
iams left  his  father's  house  to  begin  in  the  world  for 
himself.  He  engaged  in  the  first  employment  that 
offered  itself — that  of  breaking  prairie  in  the  central 
part  of  the  State.  After  continuing  in  this  business 
a  few  years,  he. sold  his  teams,  and  went  overland 
to  California  to  hunt  for  gold.  The  journey  was 
toilsome  and  hazardous,  and  required  nearly  four 
months  for  its  accomplishment,  but  he  reached  his 
destination  iu  safety,  and  remained  four  years  in 
Nevada  City,  and  that  vicinity,  engaged  in  mining. 


He  was  quite  successful  in  this  enterprise,  and  had 
it  not  been  for  ill-health  would  have  returned  in 
the  possession  of  a  fortune;  however,  he  did  well 
under  the  circumstances,  and  returned  to  Illinois 
in  1854,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  con- 
tinued in  that  occupation  until  May  12,  1862,  and 
then  at  the  call  of  his  country,  enlisted  in  Co.  D, 
123d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
James  L.  Hart  and  Col.  James  Monroe.  He  was 
mustered  in  at  Mattoon  and  ordered  to  Louisville, 
Ky..,  and  thence  to  Perry  ville,  where  they  encoun- 
tered the  rebel  forces  under  Gen.  Brag-o;,  and  en- 

oo 

gaged  in  one  of  the  hottest  battles  of  the  war.  He 
served  throughout  the  entire  war,  taking  part  in 
the  battles  of  Selma,.  Chickamauga,  Milton  Hill, 
Farmington  and  many  others.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  returned  home,  and  settled  on  the  farm  on 
section  14,  Paradise  Township,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  first  purchased  sixty  acres  and  sub- 
sequently added  100  more  to  this. 

April.  14,  1880,  Mr.  Williams  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Newcomb.  Mrs.  Williams  is  the  daughter  of 
Oliver  and  Vina  (Strovle)  Newcomb.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, where  their  daughter,  Mary,  was  born  and 
educated  in  Mattoon.  Mr.  Newcomb,  who  was  a 
carpenter  and  builder  by  trade,  was  engaged  in  the 
employ  of  the  I.  &  St.  L.  It.  R.  Co.,  for  eight  years 
as  a  coach  builder. 

Mr.  Williams  has  erected  a  fine  residence  Dn  his 
property,  with  other  commodious  and  appropriate 
farm  buildings.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  are  both 
earnest  Christians,  although  differing  in  the  out- 
ward form  of  their  religious  views,  the  former  be- 
ing a  member  and  Trustee  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  the  latter  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
They  have  one  son  —  Oliver.  In  public  affairs,  Mr. 
Williams  has  served  as  Commissioner  thirteen  years, 
and  in  politics  always  votes  with  the  Republican 
party. 


ILLIAM  A.  COMBS,  one  of  the  honored 
P'oneers  °f  this  county,  was  born  in  Ash- 
more  Township,  July  21,  1837.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Dorcas  (Cox)  Combs,  of  Ten- 
nessee, who  emigrated  north  during  the  early  set- 


* 


COLES   COUNTY. 


275  ^ 


tlemeut  of  Illinois.  .John  Combs  was  ;i  tnilhvriglit 
by  trade,  but  also  followed  fanning  and  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine;  lie  only  lived  to  middle  age,  be- 
ing eut~do\vn  in  his  prime  when  onr  subject  was  a 
lad  seven  years  of  age.  After  his  death  the  widow 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in  Ashmore  Town- 
ship, to  which  she  removed  with  her  family,  and 
five  years  later  contracted  a  second  marriage. 

When  about  ten  years  of  age  our  subject  left 
home  and  took  up  his  abode  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  with  whom  he  remained  three  years.  He  then 
began  life  practically  for  himself,  engaging  at  what- 
ever he  could  find  to  do,  working  by  the  month  on 
a  farm.  He  had  learned  no  trade,  nor  had  he  re- 
ceived the  advantages  of  an  education.  He  was 
industrious  and  economical,  however,  and  when 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  wild  land  in  Hmnbolt  Township,  of  which 
he  took  possession  and  proceeded  with  its  cultiva- 
tion and  improvement  for  twelve  years  following. 
In  the  meantime,  in  1865,  he  took  unto  himself  a 
wife  and  helpmeet,  namely,  Miss  Susan  Orcutt,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  Samuel  W.  and 
Roxy  (Kellogg)  Orcutt,  of  Massachusetts. 

Our  subject  and  his  bride  located  on  a  farm  on 
section  35,  in  Humbolt  Township,  where  they 
lived  the  first  3*ear,  and  then  took  possession  of  his 
own  land.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  227  acres, 
finely  improved,  with  a  handsome  and  substantial 
set  of  buildings,  where  the  proprietor  and  his  fam- 
ily are  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  and  conven- 
iences of  a  well-regulated  modern  homestead. .  He 
is  giving  much  attention  to  the  raising  of  graded 
stock,  including  Canadian  and  Clyde  horses,  Po- 
land-China hogs  and  Short-horn  cattle.  His  only 
son  and  child  remains  with  him  find  assists  in  the 
management  of  the  farm. 

Of  the  four  children  born  to  William  A.  and 
Susan  Combs  but  one  is  now  living,  namely, 
Dwight  M.  He  was  married,  in  1886,  to  Miss 
Annie,  daughter  of  .lohn  and  Julia  Bowman,  of 
Ohio,  and  born  in  Solono  County,  Cal.,  in  1866. 
The  first  wife  of  William  A.  Combs  departed  this 
life  on  the  9th  of  August,  1876,  amid  the  sorrow  and 
regret  of  all  who  knew  her.  She  was  a  lady  pos- 
sessing many  excellent  qualities,  and  had  fulfilled 
in  an  admirable  manner  the  duties  of  wife  and 


mother.  Mr.  Combs  was  married  the  second  time, 
Nov.  6,  1883,  to  Miss  Julia  Chambers,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  Till  and  Eliza  J.  (Trot- 
ter) Chambers,  natives  of  the  same  State,  who  re- 
moved first  to  Illinois  and  then  to  Kansas,  where 
they  died  several  years  ago.  Of  this  marriage 
there  have  been  no  children.  Mr.  Combs  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat politically. 


ENRY  WRIGHT,  foreman  of  the  paint  shops 
of  the  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.  at  Mattoon,  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  city  since  March,  1872.  He 
has  charge  of  a  force  of  from  ten  to  twenty 
men,  and  from  his  long  experience  in  matters  un- 
der his  supervision  has  become  fully  qualified  for 
the  duties  of  his  responsible  position. 

Mr.  Wright  was  born  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  in  Stony  Stratford,  Buckinghamshire,  En- 
gland, Nov.  22,  1833, 'and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Ann  (Baldwin)  Wright,  also  of  English  birth  and  par- 
entage. John  Wright  was  Superintendent  of  a  large 
stable  in  Calverton,  England,  which  position  he  held 
many  years,  and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
four  y ears.  The  wife  and  mother  lived  to  be 
eighty -seven  years  old. 

Our  subject  is  the  youngest  of  twelve  children 
born  to  his  parents.  He  attended  school  until  he 
was  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  was  then  bound 
out  to  serve  an  apprenticeship  of  seven  years  at 
painting,  and  at  the  expiration  of  this  period, 
worked  as  a  journeyman  in  his  native  shire  until  in 
July,  1869,  when  he  was  nearly  thirty- six  years  of 
age.  He  had  in  the  meantime  been  married,  and 
seeing  little  prospect  in  his  own  country  for  his  ad- 
vancement or  the  desired  welfare  of  his  family  he 
decided  to  emigrate  to  the  New  World.  Lauding 
in  Boston  he  located  first  at  St.  Louis  and  for  a 
year  was  engaged  with  the  North  Missouri  Railroad, 
then  went  to  Jefferson  City  on  the  Missouri 
Pacific,  following  his  trade  until  1872.  In  April  of 
that  year  he  became  connected  with  the  I.  &  St.  L. 
R.  R.  at  Mattoon  as  foreman  of  the  paint  depart- 
ment, and  the  length  of  time  which  he  has  been 
with  the  company  is  sufficient  indication  of  the  re- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


spect  in  which  he  is  held  and  the  value  of  his 
services. 

Mr.  Wright  was  married  in  Stony  Stratford,  En- 
gland, in  I860,  to  Miss  Martha  Downing,  also  a 
native  of  Buckinghamshire,  and  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Babbing)  Downing,  who  are 
now  deceased.  Of  this  union  there  have  been  born 
seven  children,  namely,  Ada  C.,  Annie,  John  D., 
Harry,  Joseph  S.,  Catherine  E.  and  Thomas  A'.  Our 
subject  with  his  wife  and  five  of  their  children  are 
members  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  and 
possessing  unusual  musical  talent  have  been  promi- 
nent in  this  feature  of  the  Church  service  for  the 
past  seven  years.  The  eldest  son,  John  D.,  learned 
painting  of  his  father,  and  now  has  charge  of  the 
paint  shops  of  the  C.,  R.  I.  &  P.  R.  K.  at  Keokuk; 
Harry  is  rapidly  becoming  an  expert  machinist  in 
the  I.  &  St.  L.  shops;  Joseph  S.  is  in  the  shop  with 
his  father. 

Mr.  \Vright,  after  becoming  a  naturalized  citizen, 
identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
socially  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  P3'thias. 


?1LLIAM  M.  CHETTLE,  manager  of  the 
Western  LJiiion  Telegraph  office  at  Mat- 
toon,  is  an  interesting  example  of  the  self- 
made  man  who  began  early  in  life  to  "paddle  his 
own  canoe,"  and  has  persevered  until  he  has  gained 
a  position  with  which  any  reasonable  man  should 
be  satisfied.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  old  was  spent  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic,  in  Nottingham,  England,  where  his 
birth  took  place  Oct.  1(5,  1853. 

William  M.  Chettle  is  the  son  of  George  and  Ann 
(England)  Chettle,  also  natives  of  the  British  Em- 
pire, born  not  far  from  the  birthplace  of  their  son. 
The  father  died  in  the  Crimea  of  fever  in  1855. 
He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  English  army  a  greater 
part  of  his  life.  While  away  upon  his  duties  his 
wife  and  three  children  made  their  home  at  Notting- 
ham. Of  these  but  two  are  now  living,  o:ir  subject 
and  his  sister,  .Mrs.  Carrie  Thompson,  of  Hyde 
Park,  C'ook  County,  this  State.  The  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  George  M.  Chettle.  followed 
a  soldier's  life  nearly  all  hi*  day.-  and  was  color- bearer 


in  an  English  regiment.    The  maternal  grandfather, 
Barnes  by  name,  also  served  in  the  Life  Guards. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  in  the  military 
school  at  Nottingham  from  the  time  he  was  seven 
years  old  until  fifteen.  He  then  went  into  a  print- 
ing-office, where  he  spent  ten  months,  and  then 
started  for  the  United  States.  After  landing  in 
New  York  he  proceeded  to  Indianapolis  and  was 
employed  in  a  telegraph  office  one  year,  becoming 
quite  proficient  as  an  operator.  Soon  afterward,  in 
1870,  he  was  sent  to  Chicago  to  take  charge  Qf  a 
*  branch  office  for  the  Pan  Handle  Railroad,  and  from 
there  to  Stanford,  Ky.,  on  the  line  of  the  Louisville 
&  Nashville  Railroad.  He  was  for  some  time  after- 
ward employed  at  the  different  points  on  this  road, 
and  finally  repaired  to  New  Albany,  Ind..  where  he 
became  assistant  in  the  Union  Telegraph  office, 
and  remained  until  1873.  Thence  he  went  to 
Water  Valley^  Miss.,  where  he  became  Train  Dis- 
patcher for  the  Illinois  Central.  He  came  to  Mat- 
toon  in  1875,  and  has  held  his  present  position 
since  that  time.  He  has  discharged  his  duties  in  a 
faithful  and  efficient  manner,  and  has  proved  him- 
self capable  and  equal  to  all  emergencies. 

Mr.  Chettle  was  married,  in  1874,  to  Miss  Emma 
Edwards,  of  New  Albany,  Ind;.  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  two  children — Harry  and  Gertie.  Their 
residence  is  located  on  Broadway.  It  is  in  all  re- 
pects  the  home  of  taste  and  refinement,  and  is  the 
resort  of  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends.  Mr.  Chet- 
tle, politically,  is  Democratic,  and  socially,  belongs 
to  the  K.  of  P. 


I/  J.  CRAIG,  who  is  located  on  section  1 1, 
Seven  Hickory  Township,  is  a  native  of 
Morgan  Township,  this  county,  where  his 
birth  took  place  on  the  farm  of  his  father, 
Isaac  Craig,  Sept.  11,  1840.  He  is  consequently  a 
gentleman  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  by  his  industry 
and  enterprise  years  ago,  became  an  important 
factor  among  the  agricultural  and  business  inter- 
ests of  this  part  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Craig  remained  a  resident  of  his  native 
township  until  a  boy  nine  j'ears  of  age,  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Edgar  County,  where  he  lived 


COLES    COUNTY. 


until  reaching  his  majority,  being  engaged  mostly 
in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
also  acquired  a  good  education  and  taught  school 
for  six  months.  This  occupation,  however,  had 
little  attraction  for  hinij  and  desiring  a  more  act- 
ive life  he  returned  to  this  county  and  located  on 
a  tract  of  land  which  is  now  included  in  his  pres- 
ent homestead.  He  commenced  with  energy  the 
task  of  its  improvement  and  cultivation,  and  was 
greatly  prospered  in  his  labors,  in  due  time  adding 
to  his  real  estate  until  he  was  the  possessor  of  440 
acres.  He  has  of  late  years  been  largely  engaged 
in  the  breeding  of  fine  horses,  the  head  of  his  sta- 
bles being  a  magnificent  Clyde  stallion  which  he 
and  his  brother  Lafayette  own  together,  and  which 
has  already  become  a  favorite  in  this  part  of  the 
county. 

The  subject  of  this  history  is  one  of  fourteen 
children  born  to  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Bloyer) 
Craig.  The  former  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
born  near  West  Liberty,  Sept.  25,  1810,  and  re- 
mained a  resident  of  his  native  county  until  his 
removal  to  this  State.  He  first  located  in  Edgar 
County,  subsequently  coming  to  this  county,  then 
returned  to  Edgar,  and  finally  retraced  his  steps  to 
this  section,  locating  in  Charleston,  where  he  is  still 
living,  retired  from  active  labor  but  still  compe- 
tent to  look  after  his  banking  and  real  estate  inter- 
ests. 

The  first  wife  of  Isaac  Craig  became  the  mother 
of  six  children,  namely,  Lafayette,  Robert,  Eliza- 
beth, Harriet,  William  R.,  now  deceased,  and  one 
who  died  young.  Mrs.  Craig  died  at  the  home- 
stead in  Coles  County.  He  was  subsequently  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bloyer,  a  nutive-of  Lancas- 
ter, Pa.,  who  had  come  to  this  State  with  her 
parents  and  located  in  Morgan  Township.  Of  this 
union  there  were  born  eight  children,  of  whom  the 
record  is  as  follows:  Catherine  is  married,  and  a 
resident  of  Charleston  Township;  her  first  husband 
was  T.  Beatty,  who  died  while  a  soldier  in  the  late 
war,  and  she  was  afterward  married  to  Robert 
McMullen;  of  her  first  marriage  there  were  born" 
two  children,  and  of  her  second,  five.  The  second 
child,  James,  was  born  June  29,  1844,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law  at  Mattoon;  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  E.  Chilton,  and  they  have  five 


children.  Andrew  J.,  born  Sept.  11,  1846,  married 
Miss  Sarah  Zinks,  a  native  of  Edgar  County;  she 
was  born  Aug.  9,  1848,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Emanuel  and  Delilah  (Wright)  Zinks,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Kent.  Pa.,  and  North  Carolina.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  Mrs.  C.  being 
the  youngest.  Of  this  marriage  there  are  three 
sons:  Luther,  born  April  19,  1873;  Frank  H.,  Aug. 
9,  1875,  and  Arthur  E.,  March  8,  1877.  Ellen 
Craig  was  born  in  April,  1848,  and  became  th<e 
wife  of  Newton  .Swaugo,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
where  his  parents  are  still  living;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S. 
j  had  six  children,  of  whom  two  are  deceased;  they 
are  residents  of  Charleston.  Isaac  B.  Craig,  Jr., 
was  born  in  1850,  and  married  Miss  Helen  Has- 
brook  ;  he  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Mat- 
toon  ;  they  have  no  clnldren.  Benjamin  F.,  born 
in  1852,  died  at  home  in  the  fall  of  1873.  Thomas 
J.,  born  in  1865,  married  Miss  Martha  Mountjoy; 
they  have  no  children,  and  are  residing  with  the 
father  in  Charleston;  Mary  F.  died  when  young. 

Andrew  J.  Craig  since  locating  in  this  county 
permanently,  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
its  local  affairs,  and  in  June,  1874,  was  elected  to 
represent  Seven  Hickory  Township  on  the  Count}' 
Board  of  Supervisors  and  re-elected  two  years 
thereafter.  He  has  of  late  been  largely  engaged  in 
stock-raising,  feeding  large  numbers  of  cattle  and 
shipping  them  to  Chicago  and  other  Eastern  mar- 
kets.  He  takes  a  genuine  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
his  community,  uniformly  votes  the  Democratic 
ticket,  and  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Christian  Church. 


C.  LAYTON,  of  North  Okaw  Town- 
ship, located  on  section  28,  is  a  native  of 
Garrard  County,  Ky.,  where  his  birth  took 
place  April  9,  1822.  His  family  history  in 
its  main  points,  is  briefly  as  follows:  Stephen  Lay- 
ton,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native 
of  France,  under  whose  sunny.skies  he  remained 
until  reaching  manhood,  and  was  there  married  to 
Miss  Martha  Anderson.  He  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1774,  and  settled  in  South  Caro- 
lina two  years  previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the 


278 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Revolutionary  War.  In  this  he  engaged,  as  did 
his  famous  countryman.  La  Fayette,  on  the  side  of 
the  Colonies,  fighting  in  their  behalf  until  they  had 
secured  their  independence.  He  then  returned  to 
his  farming  interests,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  the  State  that  he  had  first  selected  for 
his  residence.  His  wife,  the  year  following  his 
death,  removed  to  Garrard  County,  Ky.,  accom- 
panied by  her  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  She 
remained  there  the  balance  of  her  life,  passing 
away  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-three  years. 
Her  ten  children  were  named  respectively.  James, 
Annie,  Elizabeth,  Thomas,  John,  Stephen,  Martha, 
William,  Lydia  and  Jennie.  All  of  these,  with  the 
exception  of  the  two  latter,  became  men  and 
women,  and  were  all  married.  The  parents  were 
people  of  the  highest  moral  principles,  and  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Among  the  sons  of  Stephen  and  Martha  Layton 
was  William,  who  became  the  father  of  our  subject. 
He  was  born  in  Spartanburg  District,  S.  C.,  April 
9,  1783,  and  received  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  county.  He  was  quite  young  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  removed  with  his 
mother  to  Garrard'  County,  Ky..  remaining  with 
her  while  she  lived.  He  was  married  in  1805,  to 
Miss  Mary  A.  Yator.  This  lady  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1787,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Nancy  Yator,  the  former  a  native  of  Germany  and 
the  latter  of  Ireland;  both  are  now  deceased.  Af- 
ter his  marriage,  William  Layton  followed  boating 
on  the  Mississippi  for  about  fourteen  years,  and 
then  learned  the  trade  of  a  stonemason.  This  he 
pursued  several  years,  and  then  purchased  a  farm 
in  Garrard  County,  upon  which  was  a  gristmill  and 
a  sawmill.  These  he  operated  several  yetirs,  and 
then  selling  out,  removed  to  Butler  County,  Ky.. 
where  he  continued  farming  until  his  accumulated 
years  obliged  him  to  abandon  active  labor.  His 
death  took  place  in  March,  186(i,  when  he  was 
eighty-four  years  of  age.  The  wife  and  mother 
had  died  thirty-three  years  before,  March  14,  1833, 
while  the  family  resided  in  Garrard  County.  The 
remains  of  both  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  family 
burying-ground  of  her  father.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church.  William  Layton 
served  in  the  War  of  1812,  receiving  a  Major's 


commission,  and  participating  in  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans.  Their  children,  thirteen  in  number,  were 
named  respectively,  N:mcy,  now  deceased ;  Susan, 
Elizabeth.  John  J. ;  Henry  C.,  of  our  sketch; 
Amanda,  Margaret,  James,  Thomas,  Mary  A., 
Martha;  William,  who  died  young,  and  Abraham, 
who  died  in  Tennessee  in  about  1808. 

Henry  C.  Layton  received  his  education  princi- 
pally from  his  wife  after  they  were  married,  his 
early  advantages  having  been  extremely  limited. 
The  country  around  his  father's  homestead  was 
thinly  settled,  and  the  nearest  school-house  was  at 
least  four  miles  distant,  the  path  to  it  being  marked 
by  blazed  trees.  He  remained  a  member  of  the 
parental  household  until  twenty-four  years  of  age, 
and  was  then  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha 
J.  Logan,  the  wedding  taking  place  at  the  home  of 
the  bride,  Dec.  3,  1844.  Mrs.  Logan  was  born  in 
Garrard  County,  Ky.,  Sept.  29,  1827,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Hugh  and  Elizabeth  (Layer)  Logan, 
natives  respectively  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia. 
Her  paternal  grandfather.  Timothy  Logan,  went  to 
Kentucky  with  Daniel  Boone,  of  whom  he  was  a 
close  associate,  and  his  nearest  chum  during  the 
Revolutionary  days.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Lay- 
toij  purchased  land  in  Garrard  County,  upon  which 
he  operated  until  1853,  then  sold  'out  and  moved 
to  Macon  County,  111.,  in  the  fall  of  the  year. 
There  he  purchased  150  acres  of  land,  which  he  oc- 
cupied thirteen  years  and  then  sold  out,  and  with 
the  proceeds  came  to  this  cqunty  and  purchased 
120  acres  near  Fuller's  Point  in  North  Okaw  Town- 
ship. Here  he  resided  eleven  years  and  then 
leased  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  of  which 
he  has  since  retained  possession.  He  has  brought 
about  many  improvements  upon  his  later  purchase, 
and  has  become  one  of  the  familiar  figures  of  this 
section,  whose  place  it  would  be  difficult  to  supply. 
He  and  his  estimable  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  politically,  Mr. 
L.  uniformly  upholds  the  principles  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  served  as  Assessor  one  term,  and 
has  been  School  Director  a  number  of  years.  The 
thirteen  children  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  are 
recorded  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  born  March  5, 
1847,  is  the  wife  of  Henry  McDaniel,  a  resident  of 
Nebraska;  William  T.,  born  April  24,  1848,  mar- 


COLES    COUNTY. 


279 


ried  Miss  Lucy  Ross,  and  is  living  in  Coles  County; 
Mary  A.,  liorn  Jan.  19,  1850,  is  the  wife  of  Mai-tin 
V.  Kllis,  of  Gage  County,  Neb.;  .1.  Hugh,  born 
Sept.  24,  1851,  married  Miss  Louisa  Rightsell,  and 
is  living  in  Stoddard  Count}-,  Mo.;  John  .).,  born 
May  31,  1853,  died  Sept.  12,-  1854;  James  M., 
born  May  14,  1855,  died  on  the  24th  of  Scpten  ber 
following;  Amanda,  born  April  4,  1857,  died  Dec. 
0.  1858;  Margaret  A.,  born  June  23,  1859,  died 
Sept.  29,  1800;  Laura,  born  June  4,  1802,  is  living 
with  her  parents;  Frances  M.,  born  April  16,  1804, 
is  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Andrew  J.,  born  May  31, 
1800,  is  at  home;  Louis  C.,  born  April  16,  1808, 
died  in  July  following;  Charles  was  born  Oct.  27, 
1869. 

Stephen  and  William  Layton,  the  grandfather 
and  great  uncle  of  our  subject,  were  the  only  mem- 
bers of  their  family  who  came  to  the  United  States. 
They  both  settled  in  South  Carolina,  but  William, 
becoming  dissatisfied,  started  for  Vermont,  and 
was  never  afterward  heard  from. 


yiLLIAM  H.  COMBS,  located  on  section  19, 
Morgan   Township,  is  the  son  of  William 
and    Margaret   (Myers)    Combs,    and    was 
born  in  Clark  County,    Ind.,  Dec.    20,  1844.     The 
father  of   our   subject  was   born   near    Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  and  died  in   Clark  County,   Ind.,  when  forty- 
five  years  of  age.      He  had  emigrated  to  that  State 
in  earlv  manhood  during  its   first   settlement,  when 
man}-   of  the   people  took  refuge   in  the  forts  as  a 
protection  against  the   Indians. 

The  father  of  William  Combs,  Sr.,  was  a  native 
of  Wales.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject was  of  German  parentage  and  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania. He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  State, 
and  going  to  Spencer  County.  Ky.,  located  there, 
reared  a  family,  and  remained  a  resident  until  quite 
old.  He  then  went  to  Clark  County,  Ind..  where 
he  died  at  the  home  of  his  son-in-law,  William 
Combs,  Sr.,  at  the  age  of  ninety-three  years. 
Grandmother  Myers  had  died  in  Kentucky  when 
seventy-six  years  of  age.  Their  family  consisted 
of  nine  children,  all  now  deceased,  and  two  of 
whom  spent  their  last  days  in  Indiana,  Grand- 


father  Myers  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade,  with 
which  he  occupied  himself  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Kentucky,  and  being  fond  of  country  life  also  pur- 
chased a  farm  and  carried  on  agriculture.  There- 
is  in  the  family  of  Mrs.  Cofer,  a  sister,  a  large  side- 
board which  vvas  made  by  Grandfather  Myers  and 
is  greatly  valued  as  a  relic  of  the  past. 

William  Combs,  Sr.,  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoe- 
maker when  a  young  man,  which  he  followed  dur- 
ing the  early  part  of  his  life,  principally  in  the 
winter  seasons,  and  manufactured  the  shoes  for  his 
family  after  he  was  married.  Miss  Margaret  Myers 
became  his  wife  in  the  spring  of  1823,  in  Spencer 
County,  Ky..  whence  they  afterward  migrated  to 
Clark  County,  Ind.,  where  they  remained  until 
June  1.  1853.  They  then  came  to  this  county  and 
located  on  a  part  of  the  land  which  is  the  present 
home  of  our  subject.  William  Combs,  Sr.,  first 
purchased  352  acres  of  land  for  which  he  paid  $10 
per  acre.  Of  this  eighty  acres  were  fenced,  and 
there  had  been  built  a  log  house,  which  the  family 
occupied  for  a  number  of  years.  In  about  1855, 
Mr.  C.  put  up  the  dwelling  which  is  now  occupied 
by  his  son,  our  subject,  and  the  lumber  for  which 
was  hauled  by  teams  from  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  Mr. 
Combs  finally  became  the  owner  of  618  acres  of 
land,  but  had  parted  with  considerable  of  it  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  At  the  settlement  of  the  estate, 
his  son  William  received  forty-five  acres. 

William  Combs,  Sr.,  died  on  the  homestead 
which  he  had  established  in  this  county,  Sept.  1 , 
1874,  being  in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age. 
The  children  of  the  parental  family  were  nine  in 
number,  viz.,  Sarah  Ann,  Mary  J.,  Jessie,  Nancy 
B.,  Catherine,  Maggie  J.,  William  II.,  Rachel  E. 
and  John.  The  mother  of  these  children  departed 
this  life  on  the  2d  of  July.  1881,  having  survived 
her  husband  nearly  seven  years.  She  had  been  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Christian  Church  for  a 
period  of  forty-one  years,  and  with  her  husband 
had  trained  up  her  children  in  the  same  faith.  The 
father  of  our  subject  had  been  a  Deacon  in  this 
Church  from  1854  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  wns 
social  and  genial  in  his  nature,  and  delighted  to 
talk  about  one  adventure  in  his  life  when  he  joined 
twenty  or  thirty  of  his  neighbors  and  Marled  on  a 
bear  hunt.  Tradition  does  not  state  how  many 


280 


COLES    COUNTY. 


:iiiiin:ils  they  found  or  killed,  but  there  is  no  doubt 
but  that  the  honest  old  pioneers  made  of  it  a  very 
enjoyable  occasion. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  owns  175  acres  of  good 
land  which  was  a  part  of  the  old  homestead  of  his 
father,  and  where  he  has  resided  since  a  boy  of  nine 
years  old.  Here  he  developed  into  manhood  and 
was  married,  Oct.  9,  1874,  to  Miss  Marietta  Lip- 
pincott,  of  Morgan  Township.  The  wedding  oc- 
curred at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents,  and  the 
happy  pair  took  a  trip  to  the  capital  of  the  State, 
making  an  examination  of  the  public  buildings  and 
visiting  other  points  of  interest.  I'pon  their  return 
they  settled  contentedly  down  to  housekeeping,  and 
since  then  have  been  living  quietly  and  contentedly, 
rearing  their  children  and  enjoying  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  their  neighbors.  Of  their  union 
there  were  born  five  children,  viz.,  Ollie  May,  who 
died  when  an  interesting  little  girl  of  four  years; 
Clara  Williams;  Freddie  15.,  Nellie  and  Elmore. 

Mr.  Cotnbs  and  his  family  occupy  a  substantial 
and  commodious  dwelling,  and  the  barns  and  out- 
houses are  in  keeping  with  the  general  thrift  and 
enterprise  of  the  proprietor.  Our  subject,  politi- 
cally, is  a  reliable  Republican,  and  with  his  wife,  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church, 
in  which  he  was  reared.  He  keeps  himself  well 
posted  upon  current  events,  is  interested  in  the  wel- 
fare of  his  community,  and  has  served  as  School 
Director  for  the  past  five  or  six  years. 


US.  SARAH  E.  CUNNINGHAM,  widow  of 
the  late  Hon.  James  T.  Cunningham,  comes 
iS  of  a  family  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
this  section  of  Illinois,  being  the  daughter 
of  Rev.  Thomas  and  Martha  (Patterson)  Threlkeld, 
natives  of  Scott  County,  Ky.  Her  paternal  grand- 
parents were  Jesse  and  Lucinda  (Campbell)  Threl- 
keld, natives  of  Virginia,  who  removed  to  Owen 
County,  Ky.,atan  early  period  in  its  history.  They 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  became  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  Thomas,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  the  eldest  born. 

The  maternal  grandparents  of   Mrs.  Cunninghiini 


were  Matthew  and  Margaret  (Mcllatten)  Patterson, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  whence  they  removed 
early  in  life  to  Scott  County.  Ky.,  and  there  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  days.  Martha,  the  mother  of 
Mrs.  C.,  was  their  eldest  child.  Mr.  Patterson  was  a 
surveyor,  and  acquired  a  good  property  in  Kentucky. 
Uev.  Thomas  Threlkeld  was  a  minister  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  commenced  preaching  in  Ken- 
tucky when  twenty-two  years  old.  lie  served  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1830,  set- 
tling in  Coles  County  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Lafay- 
ette Township,  where  he  fanned  and  administered 
to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  people  until  arriving 
at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-one  years.  He 
preached  his  last  sermon  in"  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Mattoon,  when  so  feeble  that  he  was  unable  to 
stand,  and  survived  but  three  weeks  afterward, 
dying  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Cunning- 
ham, in  the  village  of  Mattoon,  April  1'J,  1805. 

Mr.  Threlkeld  was  a  man  singularly  gifted  with 
those  qualities  of  character  which  obtained  for  him 
the  universal  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew 
him.  He  possessed  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and 
represented  Coles  County  in  the  Legislature  of  Illi- 
nois in  1841.  His  amiable  and  estimable  wife 
l>assed  to  the  better  land  in  1862.  Of  their  nine 
children  but  two  are  now  living,  namely,  Mrs.  Cun- 
ningham, and  Nancy,  the  wife  of  Gen.  Milton 
True,  of  Sevvard  County,  Neb. 

The  marriage  of  Miss  Sarah  E.  Threlkeld  and 
John  T.  Hendricks  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of 
the  bride's  parents  in  Lafayette  Township,  in  1839. 
Mr.  H.  was  a  native  of  Cynthiana,  Harrison  Co., 
Ky.,  born  in  1811,  and  the  son  of  John  and  Cyn- 
thia (Wilson)  Hendricks,  natives  of  the  same  place. 
John  Hendricks,  Sr.,  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early 
day,  and  locating  in  Moultrie  County,  formerly 
Shelby  County,  engaged  in  farming  and  merchan- 
dising until  his  decease.  Of  his  marriage  there 
were  born  two  children,  John  T.  and  Poll}'  A.  The 
latter  became  the  wife  of  Charles  W.  Nabb,  and 
both  are  now  deceased.  The  son,  John  T.,  after 
arriving  at  suitable  years,  also  engaged  in  farming 
and  merchandising,  like  his  father  before  him,  and  in 
1839  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Whitley's  Point. 
He  was  stricken  down  in  his  prime,  however,  dying 
in  the  spring  of  1841.  By  his  marriage  he 


T 


f 


COLES    COUNTY. 


281 


was  the  father  of  two  children :  Cynthia  A.,  who 
married  Ira  James,  of  Mattoon,  and  had  three  chil- 
dren— John  <J.,  Frank  P.  and  Justin  C.  John  C^. 
married  Miss  Mattie  1).  Stubbing,  and  they  have 
two  children;  Frank  1'.  married  Harrietts  Watt; 
Justin  C.  married  Miss  Florence  K.  Weaver.  Mrs. 
Cynthia  James  died  in  1872.  Martha  1C.  Hendricks 
became  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Doran,  of  Mattoou,  and 
has  three  children,  namely,  Thomas  T.,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Emma  Casey,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  is 
the  father  of  one  child,  Thomas  J.,  a  resident  of 
Washington,  D.  C. ;  the  others  are  Laura  B.  and 
Nellie  R.  Mr.  Hendricks  was  a  Democrat,  politi- 
cally, and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

Mrs.  Hendricks  was  the  second  time  married,  in 
1852,  to  Hon.  James  T.  Cunningham,  who  was  born 
in  llardin  County,  Ky.,  in  1802,  and  was  the  son 
<>f  Wright  and  Nancy  (Taylor)  Cunningham,  of 
the  same  State,  where  they  were  numbered  among 
the  most  highly  respected  members  of  the  agricult- 
ural community,  Mr.  Cunningham  came  to  this 
State  in  1880.  He  had  formerly  been  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Yocum,  of  Kentucky,  who  de- 
parted this  life  in  September,  1848.  After  his 
marriage  he  continued  farming  in  Coles  County, 
became  possessor  of  a  large  area  of  valuable  land, 
and  also  purchased  and  sold  cattle  extensively.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature  six  times 
from  Coles  Count}',  and  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  a  number  of  years.  He  was  largely  identi- 
fied with  the  business  interests  of  Mattoon  Town- 
ship, and  was  instrumental  in  the  organization  of 
the  first  bank.  In  1800  he  was  the  Congressional 
nominee  of  the  Republican  party,  but  defeated  with 
the  balance  of  his  ticket.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cunning- 
ham became  the  parents  of  two  children:  Nancy  T., 
now  deceased,  and  Elizabeth  C.  Mason,  of  Mattoon, 
who  is  the  mother  of  two  children — Bertha  and 
Burton. 

Mrs.  Cunningham  is  passing  her  declining  years 
among  her  children  and  the  friends  who  gathered 
around  her  many  years  ago.  and  to  whom  she  be- 
came endeared  by  her  amiable  and  excellent  quali- 
ties. She  is  blest  with  an  abundance  of  this  world';- 
goods,  and  is  kind  and  hospitable,  always  mindful 
of  the  comfort  of  those  less  fortunately  situated. 


She  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  in  1H43.  but 
became  connected  with  the  Christian  Church  in 
1865,  and  is  an  active  member  of  the  Home  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Societies. 


AMUEL  E.  CHAPMAN,  who  has  followed 
farming  a  large  part  of  his  life,  is  at  pres- 
ent engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick 
and  tile  within  the  town  limits  of  Oakland, 
with  whose  business  and  industrial  interests  he  has 
been  identified  for  the  past  forty-five  years.  He  is 
a  fine  illustration  of  the  self-made  man,  who  com- 
menced life  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  and  by  his 
energy  and  perseverance  has  made  of  it  a  gratifying 
success.  Besides  his  property  in  Oakland  he  owns 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Douglas  Count}',  which  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  said  to  be 
excelled  by  none  in  the  State  in  point  of  quality. 

Mr.  Chapman  is  a  native  of  Brown  County, 
Ohio,  born  May  8,  1821,  and  is  the  son  of  Benja- 
min and  Indiann  (Ellis)  Chapman,  natives  of  the 
same  State.  The  father  followed  farming,  and  died 
in  his  prime,  when  forty  years  of  age,  in  1835.  The 
mother,  who  was  some  years  younger  than  her  hus- 
band, survived  him  fifteen  years,  dying  in  Illinois 
in  what  is  now  Douglas  County,  in  1850.  The  rec- 
ord of  their  children  is  as  follows:  Henry  married 
Miss  Black,  and  is  a  resident  of  Douglas  County ; 
Samuel,  of  our  sketch,  was  the  second  son;  Eliza- 
beth E.  died  many  years  ago;  Adam  F.  married 
Miss  Porter,  who  died  after  a  few  years,  and  his 
second  wife  was  Miss  Ramsey,  of  Bracken  County, 
Ky.;  Mary  died  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  when  a 
child  of  six  years, and  Benjamin  F.  died  some  years 
ago  in  New  Mexico. 

When'  Mr.  Chapman  set  out  in  life  for  himself  he 
embarked  in  merchandising,  carry  ing  a  stock  of  dry- 
goods,  groceries  and  jewelry,  and  also  furnished 
undertakers'  materials.  After  a  successful  trade  of 
six  years  he  was  burned  out,  in  1880,  and  only  re- 
covered about  $1,700  insurance  on  a  building  and 
stock  worth  *7,500.  He  had  become  a  prominent 
factor  in  the  business  interests  of  Oakland,  and  this 
misfortune  was  a  severe  blow,  but  he  lost  no  time 
in  repining,  and  not  long  afterward  established  his 


i 


282 


COLES   COUNTY. 


present  business.  He  has_  worked  hard  and  been 
very  successful,  and  is  now  running  tbe  largest  fac- 
tory in  the  township.  His  product  is  of  first-class 
quality,  and  he  burns  about  -200,000  tile  per  year. 

Mr.  Chapman  has  been  President  of  the  Town 
Board  for  man}"  years,  and  School  Director  for  fif- 
teen years.  He  served  as  Constable  in  Douglas 
County  four  years,  and  acquitted  himself  creditably 
in  the  duties  of  a  position  which  called  for  careful 
work  and  cool  judgment.  Politically  he  is  a  true- 
blue  Republican  and  socially  has  been  identified 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity  for  a  period  of  twenty 
years. 

The  lady  who  has  been  the  worthy  and  estimable 
companion  of  our  subject  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  was  formerly  Miss  Charlotte  ,1.  Coleman,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  September,  1855.  Mrs. 
Chapman  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Vermillion 
County,  in  March,  1832,  and  removed  with  her 
parents  to  Vermilion  County,  III.,  and  afterward  to 
Douglas  County.  Of  this  union  there  was  born  one 
child  only,  a  son,  Alfred  N.,  who  married  Miss 
Belle  Curtis,  and  is  following  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter in  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 


JLLIAM  CLARK,  a  native  of  Greene  Coun- 
ty, Pa.,  was  born  Feb.  14,  1814,  and  was 
the  ninth  in  a  family  of  thirteen  children, 
the  offspring  of  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Strong)  Clark. 
His  father  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  but  strongly 
inclined  to  a  country  life,  and  occupied  a  farm  in 
Greene  County,  while  at  the  same  time  carrying  on 
his  trade  as  time  and  opportunity  afforded.  He 
removed  from  his  native  State  to  Ohio  while  still  a 
young  man,  and  thence  to  Harrison  County,  Ind., 
where  he  continued  to  pursue  his  farming  opera- - 
tions  and  shoemaking  until  resting  from  his  earthly 
labors,  at  the  ripe  old  ago  of  eighty-seven  years. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  frequently  related  many  interesting  in- 
cidents of  army  life,  the  remembrance  of  which 
contimi.'d  with  him  until  his  last  days.  He  was  a 


man  of  much  intelligence  and  kept  pace  with  cur- 
rent events. 

The  mother  of  William  Clark  died  when  her  son 
was  too  young  to  remember  her.  He  continued  on 
the  farm  with  his  father  until  thirteen  years  old, 
and  in  the  meantime  worked  considerably  at  cabi- 
net-making. At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  went  to 
learn  the  hatter's  trade,  and  followed  this  nine 
years,  afterward  engaging  in  the  dry-goods  trade 
at  Cynthiana,  Ind.  From  there  he  removed  not 
long  afterward  to  Portland,  this  State,  transport- 
ing his  stock  and  settling  up  his  business  there. 
His  next  removal  was  to  Brandywine,  and  thence 
to  Beard's  Mill,  where  he  ran  a  country  store  one 
year,  and  then  traded  his  stock  of  goods  for  eighty 
acres  of  land.  It  had  been  partially  improved  and 
he  at  once  began  its  cultivation,  occupying  it  just 
thirteen  years  to  a  day.  In  the  meantime,  on  the 
29th  of  November,  1839,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and 
Winnifred  (Hood)  Tucker,  and  who  was  the  third 
in  a  family  of  eight  children.  Mrs.  Clark  was  born 
in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  July  6,  1818.  Her  father 
had  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  but 
soon  after  entering  the  army  was  disabled  from  act- 
ive service. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  soon  after  their  marriage  lo- 
cated on  the  eighty-acre  farm  first  purchased  by 
our  subject.  After  selling  this  Mr.  C.  came  to  this 
county  and  purchased  150  acres  of  improved  land 
on  section  32,  in  Mattoon  Township,  taking  posses- 
sion on  the  1st  of  September,  18.03.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years  spent  in  Mattoon  for  the  pur- 
pose of  completing  the  education  of  their  children, 
this  has  been  the  home  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
for  the  last  thirty-four  years.  He  developed  into 
one  of  the  best  farmers  in  this  section,  and  in- 
vested his  surplus  capital  in  additional  land  until 
he  became  the  owner  of  about  800  acres,  embrac- 
ing some  of  the  choicest  soil  in  this  locality.  Ili> 
residence  and  other  farm  buildings  are  tasteful  and 
substantial  structures,  and  the  entire  premises  has 
the  air  of  peace  and  plenty,  while  the  stock  and 
pasture  lands  each  year  yield  a  handsome  income 
to  the  proprietor.  lie  and  his  estimable  wife  are 
now  passing  down  the  hill  of  life,  but  the}"  have 
made  for  themselves  a  good  record,  and  one  of 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

OF  ILLINOIS 


.<     -         .:      ..."       1-:    ±.      '   :' 


RESIDENCEOFT.  A.BENSLEY,5Ec.2l.(R.10.E)HuTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCEANO  BARN  OF  F.VAIL,  JACKSON  ST., CHARLESTON, ILL. 


RESI DEMCE OF GEO.L. MILLER, SEC. 23. NORTH  OKAW TOWNSHIP. 


7 


COLES   COUNTY. 


285 


which  their  descendants  wiH  never  he  ashamed. 
Of  the  eight  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clark  one  died  in  infancy.  The  survivors  are 
Mary  Angeline.  Eliza  Jane,  William  Henry,  Martha 
Ann,  Samuel  Ephraim,  Kmma  Kli/abcth  and  .lames 
Calvin. 


N.  COFER  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
estate  containing  320  acres  of  land,  located 
on  section  29,  Seven  Hickory  Township, 
where  he  carries  on  a  large  business  in  fanning  and 
stock-growing.  He  was  born  July  20,  1839,  in 
Hardin  County,  Ky.,  and  is  the  son  of  Col.  John 
and  Eleanor  (Magill)  Cofer.  His  boyhood  and 
youth  were  passed  on  the  homestead  in  his  native 
township  until  1854,  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Illinois.  Their  family  located  six  miles  west  of 
Oakland,  and  their  house  was  the  last  dwelling  on 
the  western  borders  of  that  settlement  until  the 
belt  of  timber  was  reached,  at  the  extreme*  western 
limits  of  the  county.  They  purchased  land,  and 
during  the  first  year  devoted  25(1  acres  to  corn  and 
seventy-five  to  oats,  but  nearly  all  of  their  crops 
were  lost,  owing  to  the  unusually  dry  weather  which 
prevailed  during  that  season.  Mr.  Cofer  had  pur- 
chased 130  head  of  cattle,  and  was  obliged  to  drive 
them  to  the  head  of  Lake  Fork,  northwest  of  Ar- 
cola,  to -furnish  feed  for  them  until  spring.  They 
resided  on  this  place  three  years,  and  then  returned 
to  their  old  home,  where  after  two  years  they  were 
burned  out,  losing  all  of  their  household  property. 
On  the  23d  of  November,  1870,  Thomas  Cofer 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rachel  E.  Combs, 
by  Elder  Samuel  Miller,  Pastor  of  the  Christian 
Church,  who  is  still  living,  and  has  reached  the  age 
of  seventy  years.  Mrs.  Cofer  was  born  July  29, 
1846,  in  Clark  County  Ind.,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
William  and  Margaret  (Myers)  Combs.  Her  par- 
ents removed  to  Illinois  in  1853,  and  settled  in 
Morgan  Township,  where  they  passed  the  remain- 
der of  their  lives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cofer  have  an 
interesting  family  of  four  children:  Thomas  N.  .1.. 
born  Sept.  1,  1871;  William  E.,  Dec.  10,  1872; 
John  C.,  Feb.  17,  1874,  and  Margaret  E.,  March 

2X,  1X80. 

Mr.  Cofer  is  active  and  enterprising  in  business, 


and  has  brought  his  farm  to  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. His  residence  is  .substantial  and  comfortable, 
and  all  of  his  farm  buildings  are  well  appointed 
and  kept  in  excellent  order.  His  genial  disposition 
and  integrity  of  character  in  all  the  relations  of 
life  have  won  a  large  circle  of  friends  both  in  busi- 
ness and  in  social  life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cofer  differ 
in  the  outward  form  of  their  religious  faith,  the 
former  belonging  to  the  Methodist  and  the  latter 
to  the  Christian  Church  at  Rural  Retreat.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cofer  are  members  of  the  Grange  and  active 
in  promoting  its  interests. 


[/AMES  \V.  CRAIG,  attorney  and  counselor 
at  law,  and  a  resident  of  Mattoon,  was  born 
in  Morgan  Township,  this  county,  June  29, 
1844.  He  is  the  offspring  of  a  well-known 
and  highly  respected  family,  being  the  son  of  Isaac 
N.  and  Elizabeth  (Bloyer)  Craig,  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky and  Pennsylvania  respectively.  The  pater- 
nal grandfather  of  our  subject.  Robert  Craig,  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  removed  to  Kentucky  when  a 
young  man,  and  located  on  the  Licking  River, 
where  he  became  one  of  the  most  prosperous  far- 
mers of  that  region.  Desiring,  however,  to  come 
North,  he,  in  1828,  removed  to  Clark  County,  111., 
where  he  followed  his  former  occupation,  and  be- 
came prominent  among  the  well-to-do  and  reliable 
citizens  of  that  locality. 

The  Craig  family  is  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  religiously,  was  a 
Scotch  Presbyterian  of  the  old  school.  His  son, 
Robert,  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  His  grandson, 
Isaac  N.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War,1  a  part  of  which  was  fought  on  the  soil 
of  Illinois.  On  the  maternal  side  of  the  house  the 
Bloyers  were  from  Switzerland,  whence  they  emi- 
grated at  an  early  day  and- settled  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.  After  the  death  of  Grandfather  Bloyer,  the 
mother  came  with  her  family  to  this  county,  and 
located  at  Charleston,  where  she  resided  until  her 
death.  Isaac  N.  Craig  made  farming  his  business 
<luring  the  early  part  of  his  life,  but  retired  from 
active  labor  many  years  ago,  having  accumulated 


i 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


a  fine  property,  and  is  now  living  in  Charlestun, 
surrounded  by  all  tlie  comforts  of  life.  His  biog- 
raphy will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  parental  family  of  our  subject  included  nine 
children,  and  James  W.,  of  our  sketch,  was  the  fifth 
of  the  family.  He  remained  on  the  farm  with  his 
parents  until  twenty  years  of  age,  and  received  a 
practical  education  at  the  country  schools,  being 
fond  of  his  books  and  ambitious  to  excel.  Before 
reaching  his  majority  he  entered  the  office  of  Col. 
O.  B.  Ficklin,  where  he  engaged  in  reading  lavv 
from  July,  1864,  to  the  fall  of  the  following  year. 
Afterward  he  entered  the  law  department  of  the 
Michigan  University  at  Ann  Arbor,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1867.  Soon  afterward  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Col.  Ficklin,  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Charleston.  He 
removed  to  Mattoon  in  1868,  but  continued  in 
partnership  with  the  Colonel  several  years.  His 
progress  has  been  steadily  onward.  In  1872  he  was 
elected  States  Attorney  for  Coles  County,  which 
office  he  held  four  years,  and  aside  from  this  has 
built  up  a  profitable  and  extensive  practice.  At 
the  s:une  time  he  has  been  interested  in  the  moral 
and  intellectual  welfare  of  the  community  around 
him.  interesting  himself  in  the  city  schools,  and  is 
at  this  time  President  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

The  marriage  of  James  \V.  Craig  and  Miss  Mary, 
the  daughter  of  James  and  Lavina  (Dore)  Chilton, 
was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  residence,  June  17, 
1868.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chilton  were  natives  of  Mary- 
land and  Maine  respectively,  whence  they  both 
emigrated  West  in  their  youth,  and  were  married 
in  Scott  County,  this  State.  Mr.  C.,  during  his 
early  manhood,  engaged  in  merchandising,  but  in 
1860  sold  out  his  stock  of  goods  and  repaired  to  a 
farm  north  of  Charleston. 

Our  subject  and  wife  have  become  the  parents  of 
four  children,  namely,  Lizzie  I.,  Edward  C.,  James 
\V.and  Donald  B.  They  occupy  :i  handsome  home 
in  the  western  part  of  Mattoon, and  number  among 
their  friends  the  most  cultivated  people  of  the  city. 
Mr.  Craig,  politically,  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  socially  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  As  a  citizen 
and  business  man  he  ranks  with  the  prominent  and 
successful  element  of  Central  Illinois. 


Isaac  B.  Craig,  who  is  the  junior  of  his  brother 
by  nearly  eleven  years,  was  born  on  the  farm  in 
Morgan  Township,  April  :!8,  1855,  and  remained 
there,  attending  the  district  school  during  the  win- 
ter season,  until  a  youth  of  eighteen  years.  He  then 
entered  the  High  School  at  Charleston,  where  he 
was  graduated,  and  later  commenced  studying  law 
under  the  instruction  of  Col.  O.  B.  Ficklin  <fe  Co. 
He  completed  his  legal  education  in  the  University 
at  Ann  Arbor,  and  commenced  practice  at  Mat- 
toon  in  1870.  That  year  also  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Helen,  the  daughter  of  Abram  and 
Susan  (Smith)  Hasbronck,  of  Mattoon.  He  bids 
fair  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  brother,  who 
has  attained  to  such  success  and  popularity,  and  is 
a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  finest  families 
in  the  State. 


f  AMES  KANE  owns  eighty  acres  of  good 
laud  on  section  I-'-,  in  Humbolt  Township, 
where  he  has  built  up  a  good  home  and  is 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life,  lie 
commenced  life  without  means  and  his  accumula- 
tions are  the  result  of  his  own  perseverance  and 
energy.  His  birthplace  was  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic  in  the  city  of  Belfast,  Ireland,  in  about 
December,  18.'H,  and  he  is  the  only  survivor  of  ten 
children  born  to  his  parents,  Patrick  and  Eliza 
(O'Harry)  Kane.  The  parents  also  died  in  their 
native  Ireland  many  years  ago.  Their  children 
were  named  respectively,  Mary,  Rosanua,  Eliza, 
Sarah,  Ellen,  Margaret,  John  Patrick,  Robert  and 
James,  our  subject  being  the  youngest.  Mr.  Kane 
spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native  city, 
and  after  beginning  to  think  of  the  future,  saw 
little  in  that  part  of  the  world  to  induce  him  to 
remain.  Accordingly  in  1854,  he  secured  passage 
on  a  sailing-vessel,  and  after  a  voyage  of  seven  or 
eight  weeks,  found  himself  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  From  there  he  proceeded  to  Philadelphia 
and  Pittsburgh,  and  commenced  in  earnest  the  later 
battle  of  life.  The  year  following  his  arrival  in 
this  country  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
.Mary  Brady,  their  wedding  taking  place  in  Madison, 
Ind.,  on  the  15th  of  May,  1S5G.  Mrs.  K.  is  a 
native  of  the  same  country  as  her  husband,  born  ' 


COLES    COUNTY, 


287 


in  County  Math,  in  1836,  and  is  the  only  child  of 
James  and  Rosanna  (Riley)  Brady,  also  natives  of 
Ireland.  Her  father  died  in  the  county  of  his 
birth,  and  her  mother,  emigrating  to  this  country, 
departed  this  life  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans  in 
about  1850. 

The  eleven  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kane  are 
Eliza,  John,  Patrick,  Robert,  James,  Rosanna; 
Ellen,  the  wife  of  John  Stewart,  of  Indiana;  Sarah. 
Mary,  Margaret  and  Daniel  C.  All  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  Mr.  Kane,  politically, 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party.  During  the  late 
war  he  enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  in  the  22d 
Indiana  Infantry,  participating  in  many  important 
battles,  and  being  wounded  at  Pea  Ridge  in  both 
feet  by  a  piece  of  shell.  He  was  mustered  in  in 
1861  and  discharged  in  1863. 


EDMAN  is  a  substantial  farmer,  re- 
siding in  the  eastern  part  of  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  his  land  adjoining  the  Em  ban-as 
;lliver,  where  his  father  located  in  1853.  He 
is  the  sou  of  Jacob  and  Mahala  (Armstrong)  Ed- 
man,  his  maternal  grandparents  being  Jarred  and 
Agnes  (Hines)  Armstrong  (see  sketch  of  Joseph 
Armstrong.).  Jacob  Edman  was  born  Jan.  30^ 
1807,  in  Highland  County,  Va.,  and  passed  his  early 
life  in  his  native  State,  where  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Mahala  Armstrong  took  place  in  1831. 

In  1852  Mr.  Edman  removed  with  his  family  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  Coles  County,  where  he 
passed  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  His  wife  did  not  long  sur- 
vive the  removal  from  her  Southern  home  to  the 
harsh  climate  of  Illinois,  but  died  soon  after  their 
arrival  here,  leaving  a  family  of  seven  children, 
whose  record  is  as  follows:  Abel  and  Welling- 
ton1, deceased  ;  the  latter  served  in  the  Civil  War  in. 
the  8th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Shiloh.  The  names  of  those  living  are  : 
Joseph,  Martha.  Alary,  Kenny  and  Jacob.  Mr. 
Edman  was  married  the  second  time,  to  Miss 
Frances  Rodgers.  Several  children  were  born  to 
thi>  marriage,  three  of  whom  are  now  living  — 
Robert,  Anna  and  John.  Mr.  Edman's  death 


occurred  Feb.  L'S,  1883.  He  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  until  a 
few  years  previous  to  his  death,  when  he  attached 
himself  to  the  United  Brethren  Church.  He  left  an 
e>t:ite  of  188  acres  of  land  and  his  widow  still  sur- 
vives him. 

Kenny  Edman  was  born  Feb.  IS),  1841),  in  High- 
land County,  Va.,  and  was  a  child  when  his  parents 
left  their  native  State  and  removed  to  Illinois.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  since  that  period, 
where  he  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  In  1871 
he  married  Miss  Eliza  Hughes.  Mrs.  Edman  is  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Ellen  Hughes,  and  is  a 
native  of  this  county.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ed- 
man engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land  until  1884. 
He  then  purchased  a  tract  of  land  containing  168£ 
acres,  to  which  he  has  since  added  seventy-one,'  all 
of  which  is  well' cultivated  and  improved.  Mr. 
Edman  is  industrious  and  energetic  in  business,  and 
courteous  and  hospitable  in  his  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edman  have  a  family  of  live  chil- 
dren— Fred,  Charles,  Fannie,  Minnie  and  Wesley. 
Mr.  Edman,  deeply  regretting  the  limited  educa- 
tional advantages  of  his  own  boyhood,  is  very  desir- 
ous of  affording  his  children  the  inestimable 
privileges  of  a  liberal  education.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  politics  always 
votes  with  the  Republican  part}'. 


|7  ENRY  EYERSOLE,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  stock-grower  of  Seven  Hickory  Town- 
ship, is  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate  contain- 
ing 240  acres  of  valuable  land,  located 

^^x 

on  section  •>•!.  He  was  born  Oct.  2,  1831,  in  Fair- 
field  County,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  David  and 
Elizabeth  (Miller)  Eversolc.  His  great-grandfather 
was  a  native  of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  this 
country  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  His  grand- 
father was  born  in  that  State,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  Virginia,  where  his  father,  David 
Eversolo,  was  born,  and  where  his  marriage  to  Mi:-s 
Elizabeth  Miller  took  place.  She  was  likewise  :t 
native  of  Virginia.  A  family  of  ten  children  was 
born  to  them,  all  of  whom,  with  one  exception,  are 
now  living.  Maria  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Graham, 


t. 


288 


COLES   COUNTY. 


and  they  live  in  Fail-field  County,  Ohio;  Lizzie 
died  of  measles  at  the  age  of  eighteen;  .Jacob  is 
married  and  resides  in  Shelby  County,  111.;  Eman- 
uel  is  married  and  lives  in  Iroquois  County,  this 
State;  David  is  married,  and  residing  in  Van  Wert 
County,  Ohio;  John  P.  is  married  and  a  resident 
of  Fairfield  County,  Ohio;  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  N. 
Peters,  and  they  live  in  Fairfield,  Ohio;  Nancy  is 
the  wife  of  Abrain  Turner,  and  resides  in  Woodford 
County,  111.;  Martha,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Tidd,  also 
resides  in  Fail-field  County.  Ohio;  Henry  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

Henry  Ever-sole  lived  on  the  homestead  until  the 
age  of  twenty-eight,  then  in  1854  came  to  Coles 
County.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Work  took 
place  Oct.  21,  1858.  Mrs.  Eversole  is  the  youngest 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Henley)  Work, 
and  was  born  Oct.  10,  1836,  in  Clark  County,  Ind. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  her 
mother  of  North  Carolina.  Mrs.  Work's  family 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Indiana.  Her 
parents  made  the  long,  toilsome  journey  from  North 
Carolina  to  that  State  by  team,  and  their  daughter 
Elizabeth  walked  a  great  part  of  the  way.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Work's  family  consisted  of  ten  children, 
four  of  whom  are  deceased.  Jesse  resides  in 
Missouri;  Campbell  C.  is  married,  and  lives  in 
Texas;  Samuel  resides  in  Hot  Springs,  Ark.; 
Louisa  is  the  wife  of  John  Beggs,  and  resides  in 
Clark  County,  Ind.;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
James  Wheatly,  an  extensive  farmer  residing  in 
Seven  Hickory  Township,  and  Sarah  J.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eversole  had  a  fain i [3-  of  five  children  born 
to  them.  Lula  L.,  born  Jan.  16,  18(iO,  resides  at 
home;  McClellan,  born  Aug.  25,  1861  ;  Henley, 
July  31,  1863;  John  H.,  Feb.  17,  18G7,  and  Bert, 
born  Nov.  30,  1872,  died  Sept.  13,  1873.  The 
latter  was  a  beautiful  child,  the  pride  of  the  family, 
and  his  death  was  a  great  blow  to  his  parents.  The 
children  all  reside  at  the  homestead,  and  the  two 
eldest  sons,  who  are  talented,  well-educated  j'oung 
men,  teach  school  during  the  winter  and  assist 
their  father  on  the  farm  in  the  summer.  They  are 
all  bright  and  intelligent,  and  their  parents  may 
well  take  a  justifiable  pride  in  them. 

Mr.  Eversole  came  to  Coles  County  in  isfil.and 
lived  for  one  year  on  what  is  known  as  Greedy 


Point,  and  bought  a  quarter  of  a  section  of  land, 
the  part  of  section  23  that  now  belongs  to  Ely 
Foster.  After  selling  his  property  to  Mr.  Foster 
he  returned  to  Ohio,  but  came  back  soon  after,  and 
in  1858  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides. 
His  pleasant  and  commodious  residence  is  located 
in  a  fine  grove,  and  his  farm  buildings  are  all  sub- 
stantial and  well  appointed.  He  also  owns  400 
acres  of  excellent  land  in  Butler  County,  Kan. 
With  his  wife  and  family.  Mr.  Eversole  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  at  Rural  Retreat.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican. 


I/OHN  W.  B.  GROVE,  a  valued  member  of 
the  farming  community  of  Charleston,  came 
to  this  State  in  the  spring  of  1864,  and  com- 
menced operations  on  a  tract  of  rented  land 
in  Douglas  Count}-.  A  year  later  he  removed  to  a 
point  about  four  miles  from  the  town  of  Charleston, 
where  he  rented  a  farm  one  year,  and  then  pur- 
chased 181  acres,  which  lie  occupied  six  years. 
This  he  afterward  sold  and  took  up  his  residence 
at  Charleston,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness two  years,  and  afterward  spent  a  year  in  Kan- 
sas. Then  returning  to  Illinois,  he  leased  the  place 
which  he  now  occupies,  and  upon  which  he  has 
since  remained. 

Mr.  Crove  is  a  native  of  Fayette  County,  Pa., 
his  birth  taking  place  Aug.  15,  1817.  His  parents, 
Parry  and  Mary  (Sprinkle)  Grove,  were  also  na- 
tives of  the  Keystone  State,  where  the  father  en- 
gaged both  in  farming  and  trading  in  grain  until 
his  removal  to  Ohio,  in  1844.  There  he  located  in 
Fairfield  County,  where  he  pursued  farming  until 
removing  to  Champaign  County,,  in  that  State, 
when  he  changed  his  occupation  somewhat,  aiid 
conducted  a  hotel  until  resting  finally  from  his  la- 
bors. He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  industry, 
which  qualities  he  preserved  until  the  close  of  a 
long  and  eventful  life,  his  death  taking  place  July 
2,  1H81,  after  he  had  arrived  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
live  years.  11  is  wife,  Mary,  had  preceded  him  to 
the  silent  land,  her  death  taking  place  May  21, 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


1 


1872,  lu-r  age  sixty-nine  years  and  eight  months. 
Their  children  were  named  respectively,  John  W. 
B.,  Mary  M.,  Henry,  Matilda..  Elizabeth,  Shepard, 
William,  Maria  and  Sarah  I,.  With  the  exception 
of  Henry  and  Maria,  who  died  when  young,  these 
are  all  living.  The  father  descended  from  Knglish 
ancestry,  and  the  mother  from  the  German.  Parry 
Grove  was  a  genuine  Jacksonian  Democrat,  a  great 
admirer  of  "  Old  Hickory,"  a  man  of  decided 
views,  and  fearless  in  the  expression  of  them. 
Both  parents  were  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  reared  their  children  to  strictly  observe 
the  rules  and  regulations  laid  down  for  the  govern- 
ment of  its  members. 

The  subject  of  this  history,  in  common  with  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  was  trained  in  early  life  to 
habits  of  industry,  and  when  but  fifteen  years  old 
could  drive  a  four-horse  team  and  take  a  large 
Pennsylvania  wagon-load  of  grain  safely  to  its  des- 
tination many  miles  away.  He  continued  a  mem- 
ber of  the  parental  household  until  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  in  the  meantime  having  been  married. 
After  this  event  he  fanned  twelve  years  in  his  na- 
tive State,  and  in  1854  emigrated  with  his  family 
to  Champaign  County,  Ohio.  He  first  located  on 
a  farm  near  Urbana.  which  he  rented  five  years, 
and  afterward  leased  a  hotel  which  he  conducted 
three  years.  In  1804  he  desired  to  proceed  further 
westward,  and  came  to  Douglas  County,  this  State. 
His  subsequent  career  we  have  already  indicated. 

The  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  the  spring  of  1840,  was  formerly  Miss  Jane 
Gettys,  a  native  of  his  own  county,  and  who  be- 
came the  mother  of  nine  children.  These  were 
named  respectively.  Ashbel  M.,  William  H.,  Sam- 
uel K.,  Shepard  B.,  James  H.,  Isaac  N.,  Anna  .M., 
Parry  W.  and  John  E.  Mr.  Grove  is,  as  was  his 
father  before  him.  Democratic  in  politics,  and  pos- 
sesses in  a  marked  degree  the  same  substantial 
traits  of  character  which  distinguished  Parry  Grove 
during  his  early  manhood,  and  which  did  not  leave 
him  as  his  years  multiplied.  Mr.  Grove  has  served 
as  Assessor  of  Hickory  Township,  and  has  been 
School  Director  besides  occupying  other  important 
offices  among  his  townsmen.  He  has  been  for 
many  years  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  in  all  respects  a  reliable 


citi/.cn   \vlio   is   held   in  high  regard  b}'  his  friends 
and  neighbors. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Grove  were  Samuel  and 
Annie  (Gettys)  Gettys,  natives  of  Ireland,  the 
former  coming  to  this  country  when  a  lad  twelve 
years  of  age,  and  the  latter  being  brought  by  her 
parents  when  a  babe  of  three  months.  Their  an- 
cestry  had  been  crossed  by  the  excellent  Scotch 
element,  which  had  made  of  them  honest  and  up- 
right citizens,  and  both  became  residents  of  Fay- 
ette  County,  Pa.,  where  they  were  reared  and  mar- 
ried, and  where  their  twelve  children  were  born. 
Of  these  eleven  lived  to  be  men  and  women;  Mrs. 
Grove  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  Samuel 
Gettys  departed  this  life  in  Fayette  County,  Pa., 
in  the  spring  of  1850.  The  mother  afterward  re- 
moved to  Meigs  Co.,  Ohio,  where  she  resided  one 
year,  then  went  to  Champaign  County,  and  thence 
returned  to  her  old  home  in  Pennsylvania,  where  her 
death  took  place  in  1873.  Both  parents  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  Mr. 
Grove  officiated  as  Elder  for  many  years.  But 
four  of  the  children  are  now  living,  viz.,  John, 
Sarah.  Ma  1-3%  and  Jane,  the  wife  of  our  subject. 


J  JOSEPH  CARTER,  who  for  the  last  twenty  - 
|  four  years  has  been  located  on  section  33.  in 
Morgan  Township,  is  the  son  of  John  and 
'  Mary  (Templeton)  Carter,  of  Tennessee, 
and  was  born  Aug.  6,  1827.  John  Carter,  a  native 
of  Tennessee,  was  born  in  1784,  and  departed  this 
life  at  his  home  in  Ashmore  Township,  July  19, 
1841,  when  fifty-seven  years  of  age.  He  requested 
that  his  funeral  services  be  conducted  on  the  fol- 
lowing Sabbath  by  James  Ashmore.  He  had  been 
a  resident  of  this  county  for  eleven  years,  residing 
near  Ashmore.  The  mother  was  a  native  of  East 
Tennessee;  she  died  about  the  year  1857.  Both 
parents  belonged  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  the  father  had  been  a  member 
since  earl3T  manhood.  His  parents  had  reared  a 
large  family  of  children,  of  whom  only  John  came 
to  this  locality. 

The  children  of  John  and  Mary  Carter,  nine  in 
number,  arc  recorded  as  follows:     Susan   became 


200 


COLES   COUNTY. 


1 


the  wife  of  John  Austin,  ami  died  in  Ashinoiv; 
Shelton  is  married,  and  lives  there;  Nancy  is  the 
wife  of  Robert  Boyd,  of  Kansas;  Bailey  was  mar- 
ried, and  died  in  1847,  leaving  a  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren; Tlienia  married  Solomon  Collins  of  Morgan 
Township,  and  died  in  1856;  Jane,  the  wife  of 
»  Caleb  Reed,  is  living  at  AshmoreT  Joseph,  of  our 
sketch,  was  the  seventh  child;  Betsey  married 
James  Cox,  of  Ashmore,  and  is  now  deceased ; 
Catherine  became  the  wife  of  George  Young,  and 
died  in  Oregon. 

Joseph  Carter  remained  a  member  of  the  parental 
household  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  early 
in  life  began  to  make  himself  useful  about  the 
homestead.  He  was  a  bright  and  intelligent  boy, 
and  when  but  fifteen  years  of  age  partially  took 
charge  of  his  father's  farm.  Soon  after  reaching 
his  majority  he  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  J. 
Collins,  of  Morgan  Township.  Our  subject  then 
located  on  section  32,  where  they  lived  until  1863. 
Mrs.  Carter  was  the  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Mar- 
garet (Campbell)  Collins,  of  North  Carolina,  and 
became  the  wife  of  our  subject  Oct.  18,  1848,  the 
wedding  being  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride. 
She  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  was  born  March 

2,  1831. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carter  resulted  in 
the -birth  of  the  following  children:  William  J. 
was  born  Oct.  1,  1849,  is  married,  has  one  child, 
and  is  living  in  Oakland:  Thomas  B.,  born  Nov. 

3,  1851,  is  married,  has  two  children  living,  and  is 
farming  in  Douglas  County,  111. ;  David   W.,  born 
Oct.  2,  1855,  died  Sept.  11,  1858;  Mary  Jane,  born 
April    23,   1858,  is    the    wife   of   J.    K.   Brown,  a 
farmer  of  Edgar  County;  Alice,  born  Jan.  7,  18(11, 
is  at  home  with  her  parents;  John  A.,  born  June 
3,  1863,  died  Sept.  15,  186!);  Delilah  B.,  born  Sept. 
30,  1865,  died  Nov.  5,  1866;  Jacob  S.,  born  Sept. 
14,  1867,  died  Sept.    19,  1869;  Margaret   K.,  born 
May  26,  1870,  became  the    wife  of  David   Carna- 
han.  and  is  living  with  her  parents. 

Mr.  Carter  took  possession  of  his  present  home- 
stead over  twenty-four  years  ago,  and  has  since 
given  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  attention  to 
its  improvement  and  cultivation.  The  land  is 
largely  devoted  to  grain-raising,  and  the  proprietor 
keeps  a  goodly  assortment  of  live-stock.  While 


having  plenty  to  engage  his  attention  about  his 
premises,  he  has  still  maintained  a  proper  degree 
of  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  community,  and 
I'm-  some  years  has  been  a  member  and  Klder  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  together  with 
his  wife  and  three  daughters,  attending  at  Rardin. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  supporters  of  this  religious 
institution  at  its  organization,  and  ten  years  previ- 
ously had  been  connected  with  the  Union  Church 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  township.  Politically 
he  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  a  free-trade  man,  and  a 
member  of  Hazel  Dale  Grange  No.  1,322. 

.Mr.  Carter  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ky., 
whence  his  parents  removed  when  he  was  a  child 
not  quite  three  years  of  age.  They  made  the  jour- 
ney  overland  to  Central  Illinois,  and  .1  little 
daughter  was  added  to  the  family  after  they  located 
in  C'oles  Count}'.  His  father  had  led  quite  an  ad- 
venturous life  in  his  manhood,  being  engaged  in 
the  fight  with  the  Creek  Indians  under  Gen.  Jackson. 
Joseph,  our  subject,  served  in  the  Mexican  War. 
.  He  did  not,  however,  remain  with  the  army  many 
months,  as  he  was-taken  ill  soon  after  crossing  the 
Gulf,  and  confined  in  the  hospital,  from  which  he 
was  discharged  Nov.  20,  1846,  and  also  from  the 
army  on  account  of  physical  disability. 

Mr.  Carter,  in  1852,  like  a  great  many  others  at 
that  period,  was  seized  with  the  California  gold 
fever,  and  joined  the  caravan  moving  toward  the 
Pacific  Slope.  The  journey  was  made  with  an  ox- 
team-and  consumed  five  months  and  eighteen  days. 
He  was  gone  from  home  twenty-nine  months,  re- 
turning to  this  State  in  August,  1854,  but  aside 
from  his  opportunities  to  see  the  country,  the  ad- 
venture proved  of  but  little  benefit,  as  his  labor  in 
;  the  mines  yielded  but  small  returns.  He  came 
1  back  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  and  New  York  City, 
and  has  never  regretted  the  opportunity  which  he 
had  for  witnessing  the  strange  sights  connected  with 
life  in  the  wild  West  at  that  early  period. 

Mr.  Carter  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
local  affairs  since  coming  to  Morgan  Township,  • 
having  been  School  Director  for  a  period  of 
twenty-one  years  and  Road  Commissioner  eight 
years.  He  is  the  oldest  settler  in  the  county  now 
living  in  the  township,  and  is  accorded  that  pecul- 
iar reverence  and  respect  due  those  who  have  so  ma- 


1     • 

V 


f. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


21)1 


tonally  assisted  in  redeeming  the  soil  of  Central  Illi- 
nois from  its  original  condition.  His  f nrm  includes 
200  acres  of  finely  cultivated  land,  with  :i  good 
residence  and  all  necessary  out-buildings,  awl  every- 
thing about  the  premises  is  creditable  to  the  taste 
and  industry  of  the  proprietor.  The  lowland  has 
been  drained  with  800  rods  of  tile,  and  Mr.  Carter 
has  operated  in  a  marked  degree  after  the  methods 
of  the  intelligent  and  progressive  fanner. 


KV.  JOHN  GILBERT  SAWIN,  of  the  firm 
of  ,1.  G.  Sawin  &  Co.,  general  merchants, 
and  of  the  firm  of  I.  W.  Sawin  &  Co., 
grain  and  hay  dealers  at  Loxa,  was  born  on 
the  farm  of  his  father  in  Bartholomew  County,  Ind., 
March  1,  1838.  He  is  the  son  of  .Tames  II.  and 
Carolina  (Harvey)  Sawin,  the  former  a  native  of 
New  York  State  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey. 
James  H.  Sawin  located  in  Bartholomew  County, 
Ind.,  after  his  marriage,  where  he  engaged  success- 
fully in  farming  pursuits,  and  spent  the  balance  of 
his  life,  his  death  taking  place  in  the  spring  of  1871. 
He  left  an  estate  including  200  acres  of  land  and 
its  buildings,  which  constituted  a  comfortable 
homestead.  There  the  wife  and  mother  still  resides. 
She  was  born  in  1808,  and  has  consequently 
attained  to  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  fourscore 
years.  The  parental  family  included  nine  children, 
all  of  whom  attained  their  majority  and  five  are 
now  living. 

The  subject  of  this  history,  who  is  a  gentleman 
of  excellent  education  and  more  than  ordinaiy 
ability,  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received  briefly 
the  advantages  only  of,  the  common  schools,  his  at- 
tendance there  being  limited  to  six  months.  He 
was  fond  of  his  books,  however,  and  did  not  aban- 
don them  after  leaving  school,  but  kept  up  a  course 
of  reading  by  which  he  secured  a  good  fund  of 
information  and  which  enabled  him  to  cultivate  his 
literary  tastes,  which  were  developed  largely  in  after 
years.  He  resided  in  his  native  State  until  after 
reaching  his  majority,  and  in  1S(>2  came  to  this 
county,  settling  in  Lafayette  Township,  on  the  farm 
where  he  still  resides,  and  which  comprises  a  fine 
body  of  eighty-five  acres,  adjacent  to  the  town 


limits  and  upon  which  is  a  good  set  of  frame  build- 
ings. Mr.  S.  became  connected  with  his  present 
business  in  1870,  and  has  been  engaged  in  me'rchan- 
dising  for  the  past  twenty  years.  He  was  married 
in  this  county,  in  18C>2,  to  Miss  America  L.,  daugh- 
ter of  Dumas  and  Lucy  (King)  Jones,  and  who  was 
born  in  Coles  County,  May  2(5,  1846.  Of  this  union 
there  are  four  children  —  Ida  F.,  the  wife  of  J.  I'. 
Stout;  Lucy  C.,  Clara  V.  and  William  ft. 

Mr.  Sawin  has  been  identified  with  the  old-school 
Baptist  Church  since  1860.  The  year  following  he 
WHS  ordained  as  a  minister,  and  for  twenty-seven 
years  thereafter  officiated  in  various  places,  travel- 
ing one  year  11,000  miles  in  the  prosecution  of 
his  pious  duties.  His  health,  however,  gave  way, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  arduous  labors 
and  choose  something'less  active,  although  he  still 
officiates  in  the  pulpit  of  the  church  near  Loxa  and 
occasionally  in  other  places.  He  represented  La- 
j  fayette  Township  on  the  County  Board  of  Super- 
visors five  years,  and  since  becoming  a  voter  has  been 
the  stanch  supporter  of  Republican  principles. 

Mr.  Sawin  is  a  natural  linguist,  a  fluent  speaker 
and  writer,  and  an  excellent  penman.  He  never 
studied  grammar  in  his  life  but  has  been  the  author 
of  many  interesting  articles,  and  his  manuscript 
has  always  been  highly  complimented  by  the  "in- 
telligent compositor."  His  tastes  have  been  literary 
in  a  large  degree,  and  in  1881  he  founded  the 
"Youth's  Home  Journal,"  a  sixteen-page  monthly, 
which  he  published  at  Loxa  with  success  for  two 
years.  His  strength  then  gave  out,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  abandon  for  a  time  anything  which  re- 
quired the  exercise  of  labor,  either  mental  or  manual. 


*RAY  BROTHERS  comprise  Samuel  B.,  Da- 
j,  vid  I),  and  Matthew  S.  Gray,  who  are  asso- 
ciated together  in  conducting  an  extensive 
stock  farm,  containing  668  acres,  located  on  sec- 
tions 2!)  and  30,  Lafayette  Township.  Their  par- 
ents were  Robert  and  Martha  (l)unwiddie)  Gray. 
Robert  (Tray  was  born  Feb.  16,  1790,  in  Tennessee. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  in  that  "State,  and  Robert 
was  reared  at  home,  where  he  received  a  practical 
training  in  the  various  departments  of  agriculture. 


t 


i 


2!)  2 


COLES    (  Ol'NTY. 


When  the  W:ir  of  '1812  broke  out  lie  enlisted,  and 
received  the  commission  of  Lieutenant,  serving  his 
country  faithfully  until  peace  was  restored.  At  the 
close  of  the  wiir  lie  returned  to  his  native  State, 
and  resided  there  until  1830,  when  he  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  for  a  short  time  made  his  home  in 
Paris,  Edgar  County.  In  the  spring  of  1831  he 
changed  his  location,  and  became  an  early  settler 
of  Coles  County,  spending  one  season  near  Charles- 
ton, and  during  his  residence  there  Charleston  was 
first  laid  out  as  a  city.  In  the  spring  of  183-2  he 
entered  land  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  and  made 
his  permanent  home  there,  giving  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits  throughout  the  remainder  of 
his  life. 

Robert  Gray  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  a  Miss  Fain,  who  died  leaving  six  children, 
only  two  of  whom  are  now  living — John  M.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Concordia,  Kan.,  and  Mary  J.,  now  Mrs. 
McCord,  a  resident  of  New  Enfield,  111.  On  the 
21st  of  October,  1828,  Mr.  Gray  was  married  to 
Miss  Martha  Dunwiddie;  she  was  born  Dec.  25, 
1800,  in  Tennessee,  and  her  death  occurred  March 
(I,  18-73.  B}'  this  marriage  eight  children  were 
born,  six  of  whom  attained  maturity :  Samuel  B. 
was  born  Oct.  27,  1829,  in  Washington  County, 
Tenn.;  David  I).,  Dec.  23,  1831,  in  Charleston,  111.; 
Robert  R.,  July  18.  1833,  in  Pleasant  Grove  Town- 
ship, and  his  death  occurred  Nov.  30,  18f>8;  Mat- 
thew S.  was  born  Oct.  18,  1835,  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Township ;  Ellen  J.  was  born  June  4,  1  837,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  ten  jrears;  Margaret  A.  was  born  Nov. 
8,  1839,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  N.  Means, 
making  her  home  at  Paris,  111. :  Franklin  N.  was 
born  Jan.  15,  1842,  and  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
years;  Martha  C.  was  born  March  10,  1845,  and 
died  Dec.  !),  1880.  Robert  Gray's  death  occurred 
Feb.  7.  1805. 

The  Gray  brothers  have  always  been  associated 
together  in  business,  although  at  one  time  several 
of  them  held  clerkships  in  Charleston  for  a  number 
of  .years.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out  Samuel 
B..  John  M.  and  Matthew  S.  enlisted  Aug.  1,  18(52, 
and  were  all  mustered  into  service  with  Co.  I,  123d 
III.  Vol.  Inf.  Samuel  B.  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  engagement  at  Milton,  Tenn.,  and  was  conveyed 
to  the  hospital,  at  the  end  of  eighteen  months  re- 


ceiving his  discharge  on  account  of  physical  disa- 
bility; Matthew  was  wounded  in  the  last  battle  of 
the  war  at  Selma,  Ala.,  and  John  returned  home 
unscathed  ]>y  shot  or  shell. 

It  is  not  often  that  so  pleasant  an  instance  of  fra- 
ternal regard  can  be  recorded  as  that  existing  be- 
tween Gray  brothers.  In  their  childish  sports  and 
school  days  they  were  ever  together,  and  the 
sterner  duties  of  manhood  found  them  side  by  side 
and  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  the  defense  of  their 
country,  and  in  the  duties  of  business  life.  They 
settled  on  their  present  place  of  residence  in  the  au- 
tumn of  1 8U9,  and  have  since  kept  '•  bachelor's  hall  " 
on  that  estate.  Only  two  members  of  their  family 
ever  married.  In  politics  they  are  all  supporters  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  have  occasionally  held 
local  offices. 

Samuel  Gray  is  one  of  the  Directors  of  the  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Mattoon,  and  the  brothers  own  a  gro- 
cery store  in  that  city,  which  is  conducted  by  their 
nephew,  P.  B.  Linn.  Samuel  Gray,  although  not  a 
church  member,  is  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Mattoon,  and  with  his 
brothers  is  a  supporter  of  that  religious  body. 
There  is  now  a  Methodist  Church  in  process  of 
erection  on  their  farm,  of  which  Samuel  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  building  committee.  The  Gray  brothers 
are  among  the  substantial  and  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zens of  this  county.  In  business  transactions  their 
signature  is  S.  B.  Gray  &  Bros. 


YRON  J.  FERGUSON,  deceased.  The  sub- 
ject of  the  following  narrative  was  a  native 
of  Bradford  County,  Pa.,  born  May.  7, 
1828,  and  the  youngest  son  of  Stephen  and 
Mary  (Atwood)  Ferguson,  who  were  born  in  the 
same  county.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  edu- 
cated principally  in  the  common  schools.  When 
he  was  ten  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  from 
the  Keystone  State  to  Illinois,  settling  on  a  farm  in 
Pleasant  Grove  Township,  this  county,  where  they 
spent  their  declining  years. 

Our  subject  was  reared  as  a  farmer's  boy,  and 
after  reaching  his  majority  was  seized  with  the 
California  gold  fever  which,  in  1850,  was  attract- 


•i 


COLES   COUNTY. 


293 


ing  many  young  men  from  the  East  to  the  Pacific 
Slope.  Young  Ferguson  joined  the  caravan  mov- 
ing westward,  and  after  reaching  California  engaged 
in  mining,  in  which  he  was  fairly  successful.  After 
some  years  he  recrossed  the  Father  of  Waters  and 
engaged  in  farming  on  the  old  homestead.  The 
mountain  air  had  greatly  benefited  his  health,  and 
he  entered  with  vigor  upon  the  duties  which  lay 
before  him,  having  in  view  the  establishment  of  a 
home  and  domestic  ties.  Soon  after  his  return  he 
was  married,  Dec.  20,  1853,  to  Miss  Martha  G.,  the 
youngest  child  of  William  L.  and  Catherine  (Kel- 
lar)  Williams.  Her  parents  were  natives  respectively 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  but  after  their  marriage 
took  up  their  abode  in  Kentucky,  whence  they  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  locating  in  this  county  in  the 
pioneer  days.  Their  (laughter,  Martha  G.,  was  born 
April  24,  1835. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferguson  con- 
tinued on  the  old  homestead  for  a  period  of  thir- 
teen years,  and  then  Myron  J.  put  up  a  dwelling 
for  himself  and  family  near  by,  and  practically 
breaking  loose  from  the  active  labors  of  the  farm, 
began  to  deal  in  stock,  and  as  a  natural  conse- 
quence required  additional  land.  At  the  end  of 
fifteen  years,  during  which  he  had  been  remarkably 
prosperous,  he  found  himself  the  owner  of  about 
1,000  acres.  This  comprised  a  valuable  and  fertile 
tract  and  the  large  fields  were  alive  with  the  finest 
of  stock,  embracing  horses,  cattle  and  hogs.  In 
1872,  however,  in  order  to  carry  on  the  education 
of  his  children  he  retired  from  the  farm  and  moved 
to  Mattoon.  He  had  been  already  somewhat  inter- 
ested in  business  there,  but  continued  the  super- 
vision of  his  farm  and  dealt  in  stock  until  failing 
health  compelled  him  to  set  aside  worldly  interests. 
His  death  occurred  on  the  24th  of  May,  1876.  He 
had  purchased  a  fine  residence  property  in  Mattoon 
where  his  widow  now  resides,  and  is  remembered 
as  a  wide-awake  and  enterprising  citizen  who  con- 
tributed his  full  quota  toward  developing  the  re- 
sources of  his  adopted  county.  His  straightfor- 
ward business  methods  had  secured  him  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  his  genuine 
kindness  of  heart  drew  around  him  a  large  circle  of 
warm  friends. 

Of  the  five  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fergu- 


son, three  are  still  living.  Catherine  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Glenn,  an  attorney  of  Mattoon ;  Oscar  is  a 
practicing  physician  in  the  latter-named  place; 
Cyphora  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Lindley;  Leroy 
died  when  four  years  of  age,  and  an  infant  died 
unnamed. 


OSEPH  ALLISON,  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
I  pioneers  of  Coles  County,  his  residence  here 
dating  from  1833.  His  father,  Andrew  Al- 
lison, was  born  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  and 
was  seven  years  of  age  when  his  parents  left  their 
native  land  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States. 
They  were  probably  the  descendants  of  a  Scottish 
family  who  took  refuge  in  the  North  of  Ireland 
during  the  religious  dissensions  by  which  Scotland 
was  disturbed  during  the  latter  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  They  settled  in  North  Carolina, 
where  Joseph  Allison  was  born  in  1796.  He  passed 
his  early  life  in  that  State,  and  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Margaret  Ann  Cathey  took  place  there.  Mrs. 
Allison  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret 
Cathe3r.  .  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Scotland, 
who  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Car- 
olina, where  their  daughter  Margaret  was  born. 

After  his  marriage,  Joseph  Allison  removed  to 
the  State  of  Tennessee,  where  he  remained  about 
twelve  years.  The  successful  close  of  the  Black 
Hawk  War  at  that  time,  resulted  in  attracting  many 
Eastern  settlers  to  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Allison  resolved 
to  move  with  his  young  family,  and  brave  the  per- 
ils and  hardships  of  pioneer  life  on  the  Western 
frontier.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1833,  and  settled 
in  Coles  County,  where  his  influence  in  political, 
religious  and  moral  questions,  was  of  great  advan- 
tage in  the  formation  of  society  in  a  new  country. 
He  assisted  in  organizing  the  New-School  Presby- 
terian Church,  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  of 
which  he  was  an  active  member  and  one  of  the 
first  Elders.  He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  temper- 
ance, and  in  the  early  days  belonged  to  the  Whig 
party  in  politics,  becoming  a  stanch  Republican 
after  the  organization  of  that  party.  His  convic- 
tions in  regard  to  all  subjects  of  National  or  social 
importance  were  very  pronounced,  and  previous  to 
the  war  he  was  a  warm  Abolitionist.  With  the 


• 


294 


COLES    COUNTY. 


consent  and  approval  of  his  wife,  he  made  use  of  a 
sum  of  money  which  she  had  received  from  her 
father's  estate  in  North  Carolina,  to  assist  the  slaves, 
who  endeavored  to  escape  from  the  galling  chains 
of  bondage  to  Canada,  over  the  Underground  Rail- 
road, and  in  1861  circulated  a  petition  containing 
a  large  number  of  names,  in  behalf  of  the  emanci- 
pation of  the  slave,  which  was  sent  to  President 
Lincoln  at  Washington. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allison  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren born  to  them  whose  record  is  as  follows:  Sa- 
rah, Andrew,  Rebecca  and  John  are  deceased ; 
Frances  is  now  the  widow  of  Rufus  Allison,  who 
served  in  Co.  I,  123d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  died  at 
Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  in  1863;  Nancy  T.,  now  Mrs. 
Nicholson,)  and  Mary,  Mrs.  Grimes.  Mr.  Allison 
never  aspired  to  political  preferment,  but  was  in- 
terested in  educational  affairs,  and  served  as  School 
Director;  he  was  Treasurer  eighteen  years.  His 
death  occurred  in  August,  1862.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  and  died  in  October,  1877. 

Mr.  Allison  was  distinguished  for  his  strict  ad- 
herence to  honor  and  principle  in  all  the  affairs  of 
life,  and  his  influence  was  ever  exerted  on  the  side 
of  truth  and  justice,  qualifications  which  rendered 
him  a  man  of  great  value  in  a  new  community, 
where  a  strong  element  of  law  and  order-loving 
people  is  necessary  to  restrain  the  license  resulting 
from  a  crude  state  of  society. 


^ILLIAM  M.  CHAMBERS,  M.  D.,  the  old- 
est resident  physician  of  Charleston,  came 
to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1855,  from 
Covington,  Ky.,  where  he  had  successfully  followed 
the  practice  of  his  profession  for  a  period  of  ten 
years.  He  was  born  in  Cynthiana,  Ky.,  April  11, 
1814,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Sallie  (Rankin) 
Chambers,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  His  grandfather, 
James  Chambers,  was  born  in  Scotland,  whence  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  while  a  young  man, 
and  settled  near  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  where  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade  as  a  stonemason.  He  also  married 
there  and  reared  a  family,  and  his  son,  James,  Jr., 
learned  the  same  trade. 


James  Chambers,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1850  and  settling  near  Charleston,  re- 
mained a  permanent  resident  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  in  the  summer  of  1873,  after  he  had  at- 
tained the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  He  was  a  man  of 
much  force  of  character,  a  stanch  member  of  the  old 
Whig  part}',  and  signalized  his  belief  in  the  Chris- 
tian religion  early  in  life  by  becoming  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  he 
continued  until  his  death.  The  mother  departed 
this  life  at  the  old  homestead,  near  Charleston,  in 
1855.  She  also  belonged  to  the  same  church  as 
her  husband,  and  was  in  all  respects  his  suitable  and 
worthy  helpmeet.  The  parental  household  included 
eight  children,  five  now  living,  namely,  William 
M.,  of  our  sketch,  Thomas  G.,  Mary  A.,  Hannah 
A.  and  Sarah  B. 

Dr.  Chambers  was  reared  in  his  native  town  and 
attended  school  there  until  seventeen  years  old. 
There  also  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in 
1833,  and  three  years  later  began  the  practice  of 
his  chosen  profession  in  Harrison  County.  He  still 
continued  his  close  application  to  his  books,  and  in 
due  time  entered  the  medical  department  of  Tran- 
sylvania University  at  Lexington,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1843.  His  practice  while  a  resident 
of  Kentucky  was  mostly  in  Covington  and  vicinity. 
After  coming  to  this  county  and  soon  after  the 
outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  Dr.  Chambers  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  Brigade  Surgeon  in 
the  Union  army,  serving  in  the  division  of  the 
Cumberland  until  in  July,  1865.  The  fidelity  with 
which  he  fulfilled  the  duties  of  that  position  was 
rewarded  with  the  brevet  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
and  afterward  Colonel.  In  his  mangement  of  the 
hospitals  under  his  charge,  he  displayed  most  excel- 
lent judgment  and  introduced  many  features  which 
proved  of  great  benefit  to  both  patients  and  attend- 
ants. 

After  an  absence  of  four  years  Dr.  Chambers  re- 
turned to  Charleston  and  resumed  his  practice  as  a 
private  citizen,  and  became  connected  with  the  va- 
rious important  medical  societies  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley.  He  was  President  of  the  Kentucky  State 
Medical,  the  Illinois  Medical,  and  the  Esculapian 
Societies  of  the  Wabash  Valley,  and  in  1877  was 


COLES   COUNTY. 


295 


appointed  by  Gov.  Cullum  a  member  of  the  Health 
Association  of  the  United  States.  He  is  now 
Examining  Surgeon  for  Pensions. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  William  M.  Chambers  and 
Miss  C.  A.  Porter,  of  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  took 
place  in  Pulmansville,  Ky.,  in  the  spring  of  1837. 
After  remaining  the  companion  of  her  husband  but 
three  short  years  Mrs.  Chambers  departed  this  life 
in  the  spring  of  1840,  leaving  one  child,  a  son, 
Charles  8.,  who  now  a  resident  of  Hopkinsville,  Ky. 
Dr.  Chambers  -was  subsequently  married  to  Miss 
Mary  B.  F.  Ingals,  of  Kentucky.  This  lady  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Daniel  Boone.  and  died  on  the 
30th  of  December,  1876,  at  her  home  in  Charles- 
ton, leaving  two  children.  These  were  Mollie  M. 
S.,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  C.  A.  Payton,  surgeon  of 
tin;  Sac  and  Fox  Indian  Agency  in  Indian  Terri- 
tory, and  T.  Gavin,  who  is  an  attorney  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Kansas.  The  Doctor  is  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  a  Royal  Arch  Mason. 


IMLLIAM  H.  DODDS  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
residing  on  section  16,  Hutton  Township. 
He  was  born  Nov.  8,  1811,  in  Rockbridge 
County,  Va.,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Harriet 
(Thompson)  Dodds,  the  former  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  The  family 
of  John  Podds  removed  to  Virginia  during  his 
boyhood,  and  his  marriage  subsequently  took  place 
there  in  Bath  County.  In  1842  he  removed  to 
Fayette  County,  Ohio.  He  was  a  stonemason  by 
trade,  but  engaged  in  agriculture  in  Ohio,  and  re- 
mained tnere  six  years.  In  1848  he  came  West 
and  settled  in  Fulton  County,  111.,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Dodds,  with  his 
wife,  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  was  interested  in  promoting  the  cause  of 
religion  in  the  West.  In  politics  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat. His  first  wife,  who  became  the  mother  of 
thirteen  children,  died  in  Virginia.  The  following 
is  the  record  of  their  family:  Mary;  William,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Alexander,  Margaret,  Jane, 
John,  Franklin,  Charles,  Isaac  and  Robert;  three 
died  in  infancy ;  Margaret  and  Charles  are  also 
deceased.  The  others  are  married  and  have  fami- 


lies. Mr.  Dodd's  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Thomas;  their  marriage  took  place  in  Fayette 
County,  Ohio.  Mr.  Dodds  died  at  the  homestead 
in  Fulton  County,  where  his  widow  is  still  living. 
William  Dodds  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
about  twenty-two  years  of  age.  During  his  boy- 
hood the  educational  advantages  of  the  country 
were  vei-3r  limited,  and  he  attended  the  subscription 
school  of  the  pioneer  days,  acquiring  such  edu- 
cation as  its  restricted  privileges  afforded.  When 
about  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  engaged  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  and  was  married,  Oct.  12, 1835,  to 
Miss  Frances  Deverick.  Mrs.  Dodds  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Annie  (Ewing)  Deverick,  and 
was  born  Aug.  3,  1819,  in  Virginia.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  Mr.  Dodds  resided 
in  that  State  wheir  his  marriage  took  place.  He 
purchased  a  small  tract  of  land  there  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  about  nine  years.  He  then 
disposed  of  his  interests  there,  and  in  1844  re- 
moved to  Fayette  County,  Ohio.  He  carried  on  a 
farming  business  there  for  about  five  years,  and  in 
the  autumn  of  1849  came  to  Coles  County,  111., 
and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  partly  improved 
land,  which  he  has  since  brought  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  Mr.  Dodds  is  active  and  energetic  in 
business,  and  has  added  to  his  property  until  he 
now  owns  120  acres  on  which  ho  resides,  and  120 
acres  in  Union  Township,  Cumberland  County. 
He  rents  his  farm  in  the  latter  place,  about  100 
acres  of  which  is  farming  land,  and  is  supplied 
with  a  house  and  farm  buildings.  He  made  the 
purchase  at  different  times  as  he  was  prospered  in 
business.  In  conducting  his  farm,  Mr.  Dodds 
gives  special  attention  to  raising  the  cereals — corn, 
oats  and  wheat. 

Mr.  Dodds  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  the  mother  of  ten  children.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  a  sincere 
Christian,  devoted  to  the  interests  of  her  home 
and  family.  Her  death  occurred  Nov.  4,  1861. 
The  following  is  the  record  of  their  family :  Mary 
Jane,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  Gossett,  and 
left  a  family  of  six  children ;  Harriet,  the  wife  of 
I  S.  Giflln,  resides  in  Coffey  County,  Kan.;  John  W. 
married  Miss  Almira  Wood  worth;  his  wife  died  in 
1886;  Martha,  the  wife  of  William  H.  Berkley, 


-I 


296 


COLES   COUNTY. 


resides  in  this  county ;  James  married  Miss  Mary 
Marrs,  and  resides  in  Coffey  County,  Kan.;  Vir- 
ginia died  in  childhood;  Louisa,  the  wife  of  W.  S. 
Cooper,  resides  in  Cumberland  County.  111.; 
Margaret,  the  wife  of  Urias  Bonnet,  lives  in  Hutton 
Township;  Sally,  the  wife  of  Frank  Rowe,  is  a 
resident  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township;  Alma  is  the 
wife  of  John  McMorris. 

July  15,  1862,  Mr.  Dodds  was  married  the  sec- 
ond time,  to  Mrs.  Catherine  (Beery)  Berkley. 
Mrs.  Dodds  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Beery,  and 
was  born  Sept.  3,  1833,  in  Rockingham  County, 
Ya.,  of  which  State  her  parents  are  natives.  By 
the  second  marriage  there  were  five  children : 
William  Logan,  born  July  19,  1863;  Charles  S., 
Nov.  9,  1866;  Clara  M.,  Jan.  11,  1868;  Robert  E., 
May  27,  1870;  Dora  H.,  born  Feb.  16,  1873,  died 
Dec.  2,  1875.  With  his  wife  Mr.  Dodds  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  cast  his  first  vote  in  the  early 
days  for  Harrison. 

Mrs.  Dodd's  father  was  born  April  3,  1803,  in 
Virginia.  His  marriage  took  place  there,  and  he 
subsequently  removed  with  his  family  to  Ohio, 
where  his  death  occurred  in  Hocking  Count}' ; 
his  wife  likewise  died  in  Ohio,  in  Perry  County. 
Their  family  consisted  of  thirteen  children — Anna, 
Milly,  David,  Catherine,  Barbara,  Mary  F..  Joseph, 
William  H.,  Betsy  Jane,  John,  Margaret  and  two 
who  died  in  infancy.  Milly,  Anna,  Catherine, 
John  and  Barbara  are  now  living  and  have  fami- 
lies. 


-*- 


ONATHAN  SHAVER,  a  gentleman  of  fine 
education  and  more  than  ordinary  intelli- 
gence, has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
since  the  spring  of  1866,  and  is  located  on  a 
fine  farm  of  180  acres  in  Ashmore  Township,  his 
property  occupying  a  part  of  the  east  half  of  sec- 
tion 29.  The  farm  is  embellished  with  first-class 
improvements,  and  is  chiefly  devoted  to  stock- 
growing,  and  in  all  respects  indicates  the  super- 
vision of  a  proprietor  skilled  in  his  calling,  and  one 
who  has  taken  advantage  of  the  most  approved 
methods  of  modern  agriculture.  The  dwelling  is  a 


neat  and  tasteful  residence,  handsomely  furnished, 
one  of  its  most  attractive  features  being  a  library 
containing  the  best  literature  of  the  day.  Mr.  Shaver 
is  an  extensive  reader,  and  devotes  all  his  leisure 
moments  to  the  perusal  of  the  subjects  treated  by 
the  best  authors,  and  thus  has  kept  himself  well 
informed  upon  current  events,  as  well  as  the  his- 
tory of  times  gone  by. 

Mr.  Shaver  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  his  birth  tak- 
ing place  in  Montgomery  County,  July  22,  1 836. 
His  parents,  Jonathan  M.  and  Susan. (Cook)  Shaver, 
were  natives  of  Virginia.  The  father,  who  was 
born  July  10,  1805,  followed  farming  and  was  also 
a  bricklayer  by  trade,  and  spent  his  last  years  in 
Indiana,  his  death  taking  place  in  February,  1866. 
He  had  received  but  limited  school  advantages, 
but  through  his  own  efforts  obtained  a  good  fund 
of  general  information,  and  being  a  natural  math- 
ematician, became  master  of  arithmetic  and  .geom- 
etry. He  was  also  well  versed  in  the  Scriptures 
and  a  devoted  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at 
Ladoga,  Ind.  The  church  building  at  that  place 
was  put  up  mainly  through  his  exertions,  and  he 
was  always  a  cheerful  and  liberal  supporter  of  the 
institution,  giving  his  means  and  influence  to  ad- 
vance its  prosperity.  He  was  a  man  of  decided 
views,  Democratic  in  politics,  and  by  his  energy 
and  industry  secured  a  good  homestead  for  his 
family  and  a  competence.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  1802,  and  became  the  wife  of  Jon- 
athan M.  Shaver  in  1826.  Their  twelve  children 
were  Mary,  David  C.,  Daniel,  Sarah  J.,  Susan  S., 
Jonathan,  John,  Francis  M.,  Martha  W.,  Martin  L., 
James  M.,  and  Eliza  A.,  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  Shaver  family  is  of  German  ancestry,  and  it 
is  supposed  that  the  first  representatives  in  this 
country  located  in  Pennsylvania.  Our  subject 
came  to  Illinois  in  1866,  and  for  more  than  twenty 
years  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county.  He  first 
purchased  1 40  acres,  to  which  he  afterward  added 
forty  more,  and  has  now  one. of  the  finest  farms  in 
Ashmore  Township.  His  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
J.  Stratton  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the 
bride's  parents  in  Ladoga,  Ind.,  Sept.  31,  1856. 
Mrs.  S.  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Ohio,  July  19, 
1834.  She  departed  this  life,  leaving  two  children: 
Rozella  is  married  and  a  resident  of  Bloomington, 


<h 


COLES   COUNTY. 


297 


Ind.;  Emma  J.  married  John  Perry,  and  died  in 
April,  1887.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1866,  was  formerly  Miss 
Angeline  Trickey,  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in 
1846.  Of  the  ten  children  which  blest  this  union 
but  seven  are  living,  viz.,  Laura  V.,  John  H.,  Ivan 
H.,  Grace,  Hugh,  Lovina  and  Kyle. 

Mr.  Shaver  is  Democratic  in  politics,  and  a  mem- 
ber in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  is  Superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school, and  also  officiates  as  Steward  and 
Trustee.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  number  among  their 
warmest  friends  the  most  cultivated  people  of  this 
section,  and  their  home  is  in  all  respects  a  model 
one,  the  admiration  of  the  passer-by  and  a  hospita- 
ble resort  for  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances. 


/  OSEPH  M.  FERGUSON  is  one  of  the  promi- 
nent farmers  and  stock-growers  of  Pleasant 
Grove  Township,  and  an  honorable  repre- 
\UB*//  sentative  of  one  of.  the  pioneer  families  of 
Illinois.  He  was  born  July  17,  1825,  in  Bradford 
County,  Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of  Stephen  and  Polly 
Ann  (Atwood)  Ferguson.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, likewise  Stephen  Ferguson,  was  a  native  of 
England,  and  a  member  of  the  British  army.  He 
emigrated  from  the  mother  country  at  an  early  day, 
and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  married  a 
Miss  Foster,  who  came  from  one  of  the  Eastern 
States.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Myron  Atwood, 
was  a  native  of  Wales,  and  served  as  a  teamster  in 
the  Revolutionary  War.  His  marriage  took  place 
in  this  country. 

Stephen  Ferguson,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Pennsylvania.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Polly  Ann 
Atwood  took  place  there.  She  was  likewise  a  na- 
tive of  that  State.  In  1836  he  moved  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Coles  County.  He  was  an  active, 
enterprising  man,  and  carried  on  a  large  and  suc- 
cessful business  here  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  endowed  with  excellent  mental  abili- 
ties, possessed  a  vigorous  physique,  and  lived  to  the 


advanced  age  of  eighty  years.  His  death  occurred 
July  5,  1868.  His  widow  survived  him  ten  years, 
and  died  Feb.  19,  1878,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 
They  were  actively  interested  in  promoting  the 
cause  of  religion  on  the  Western  frontier,  and  were 
prominent  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  Three  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  whose  names  are  as  follows :  William,  a  resi- 
dent of  Washington  Territory ;  Joseph  M.,  and 
Myron,  deceased. 

Joseph  Ferguson  was  eleven  years  of  age  when 
his  family  settled  in  Illinois.  He  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  gained  much  practical  experience 
in  assisting  in  the  various  branches  of  farm  labor. 
He  also  attended  school,  making  good  use  of  the 
limited  advantages  afforded  in  the  pioneer  days. 
In  1849  he  married  Miss  Phoebe  Ann  Brown,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky.  Their  married  life  was  of  short 
duration.  She  died  within  two  years,  leaving  two 
children,  Mary  M.  and  Stephen,  both  of  whom  are 
deceased.  On  the  9th  of  March,  1852,  Mr.  Fergu- 
son was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Alexander.  Mrs. 
Ferguson  was  born  May  30,  1832,  in  Coles  County, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Robert  and  Jemima  (How- 
ard)'Alexander.  Robert  Alexander  was  a  native 
of  Hardiu  County,  K}'.  His  wife  was  likewise  a 
native  of  that  State,  and  their  marriage  took  place 
there.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  the  pioneer  dnys 
and  settled  in  Coles  County  in  1831,  making  their 
home  here  until  1854,  and  then  moved  to  Sullivan 
County,  Mo.,  where  Mr.  Ferguson's  death  occurred 
in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year.  His  widow  died 
Nov.  21,  1878.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children 
born  to  them,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Mrs. 
Ferguson  is  the  eldest  child. 

Mr.  Ferguson  located  on  his  present  farm  in 
1858,  and  in  the  meantime  has  given  his  attention 
exclusively  to  farming  and  stock-growing.  He 
owns  170  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  has  given  200 
acres  to  his  children.  Eleven  children  were  born 
to  him,  only  six  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  fol- 
lows: William  A.,  Clarence  A.;  Clarissa,  the  wife 
of  Hugh  McFadden;  Ettie,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Landers;  Alice  and  Joseph  W. 

In  earl}1  life  Mr.  Ferguson  was  a  Whig,  but  be- 
came a  Republican  after  the  organization  of  that 
party.  He  does  not  aspire  to  political  preferment, 


1 

f 


298 


COLES    COUNTY. 


but  is  interested  in  educational  affairs  and  has 
served  as  School  Director.  He  is  also  active  in 
promoting  the  cause  of  religion,  and  for  twenty- 
five  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 


OELSON  R.  GREEN,  a  prominent  and  wealthy 
I   farmer  of   Coles  County,  is  now  practically 
)  retired  from  active  labor  and  is  enjoying 

the  comforts  of  one  of  the  most  elegant  homes  in 
Charleston  Township.  This  is  located  outside  the' 
city  limits  and  comprises  eighty  acres  of  highly 
cultivated  land,  with  one  of  the  most  handsome 
and  substantial  residences  in  the  county.  Besides 
this  property  Mr.  Green  owns  a  farm  of  303  acres 
in  Ashmore  Township,  on  which  is  a  commodious 
farm  house  and  other  modern  improvements.  It  is 
well  stocked  with  the  best  grades  of  domestic 
animals,  and  Mr.  Green,  while  occupying  the  farm, 
makes  a  specialty  of  raising  Poland-China  hogs,  im- 
porting probably  the  first  animals  of  the  kind  in 
Coles  County.  He  commenced  life  without  means, 
working  much  of  the  time  as  a  farm  laborer,  and 
the  position  which  he  now  occupies  in  his  com- 
munity, amply  indicates  the  perseverance  and  in- 
dustry with  which  his  years  have  been  employed. 

Mr.  Green  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
since  the  spring  of  1849.  His  boyhood  years  were 
spent  in  Miami  County,  Ohio,  where  his  birth  took 
place  on  Christmas  Day,  1830.  His  father,  James 
Green,  was  a  native  of  AVest  Virginia,  in  which 
State  various  representatives  of  the  family  have 
resided  for  several  generations.  The  father  of  our 
subject  remained  in  the  Old  Dominion  until  reach- 
ing manhood  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Hemingway,  who  was  born  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State,  in  that  portion  which  remained 
loyal  to  the  Union  during  the  late  Civil  War. 

After  marriage,  James  Green  and  his  bride 
migrated  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Hamilton  County, 
amidst  the  timber,  where  the  father  of  our 
subject  opened  up  a  farm  upon  a.  portion  of  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  After  a  few 
.years  spent  in  that  region  they  pushed  on  further 
westward  into  Miami  County,  where  the  elder 


Green  proceeded  as  before,  clearing  away  the  tim- 
ber, erecting  a  log  cabin,  and  the  second  time 
assuming  the  role  of  a  pioneer  settler.  After  a  few 
years  spent  there  he  became  uneasy  and  desirous 
of  setting  forth  on  another  pilgrimage.  He  accord- 
ingly loaded  his  worldly  effects  into  wagons  and 
with  his  family  started  to  cross  the  Mississippi  and 
located  in  Missouri.  While  journeying  through 
Coles  County,  this  State,  they  met  some  of  their 
old  neighbors  who  were  returning  from  Missouri 
to  their  former  homes.  The  distressing  account 
which  these  people  gave  of  matters  in  that  State, 
persuaded  Mr.  Green  from  continuing  his  journey 
and  he  concluded  to  locate  where  he  was,  namely 
in  Coles  County.  He  accordingly  settled  upon  a 
tract  of  land  in  Hutton  Township,  which  he  occu- 
pied four 'years  and  then  decided  to  return  to  Ohio. 
Locating  in  Darke  County  he  again  cleared  away 
the  forest,  broke  the  virgin  soil  and  put  up  the 
cabin  of  the  pioneer.  His  residence  there,  how- 
ever, was  of  short  duration,  and  we  next  find  him 
in  Randolph  County,  Ind.,  where  he  entered  a  large 
tract  of  land,  platted  a  town,  built  several  houses, 
and  effected  many  other  improvements  which  in- 
duced people  to  repair  there  for  settlement.  He 
also  fitted  up  a  building  for  a  hotel  and  was  press- 
ing rapidty  along  the  road  to  wealth  when  he  made 
the  mistake  of  so  many  generous-hearted  men,  that 
of  going  security  for  a  large  sum  of  money  in  order 
to  accommodate  friends.  As  is  too  often  the  case, 
when  the  obligations  became  due  Mr.  Green  was 
obliged  to  meet  them,  and  by  this  means  lost  the 
larger  part  of  his  fortune.  He  finally  removed 
from  Randolph  to  Grant  County,  and  located  upon 
100  acres  of  land  which  he'cultivated  to  the  best  of 
his  ability  until  in  1848,  when,  greatly  broken  in 
health  and  spirits,  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  active 
labor  and  died  in  the  fall  of  the  year.  Mrs.  Green 
after  the  death  of  her  husband  resided  one  year  in 
Randolph  County  and  then  returned  again  to  Grant 
County.  Finally,  at  the  request  of  her  children,  she 
came  to  this  county  and  passed  her  remaining 
years,  her  death  taking  place  at  the  home  of  her 
son  in  Morgan  Township. 

The  household  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Green  in- 
cluded fourteen  children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  be- 
come men  and  women,  and  the  parents  lived  to 


COLES   COUNTY. 


'299 


witness  the  marriage  of  each.  Nancy,  the  wife  of 
Nelson  Reddick.  and  Arthusia  whu  married  Nelson 
McCoy,  are  now  deceased ;  Katie  is  the  wife  of 
Andrew  Frazier,  of  Union  City,  Ind.;  Andrew  is 
deceased ;  Zachariah  is  a  resident  of  Logansport, 
Ind. ;  Hester  is  the  wife  of  Branson  Anderson,  of 
Randolph  County,  Ind.  The  younger  members 
were:  James,  John  H.,  William  P.;  Mary,  the  wife 
of  A.  Wiggs;  Nelson  R.  of  our  sketch;  Henry  H., 
and  Hannah  J.,  the  wife  of  G.  W.  White.  The  last 
two  are  numbered  among  the  dead. 

James  Green  was  a  man  of  great  force  of  char- 
acter and  when  becoming  entitled  to  the  right 
of  suffrage  identified  himself  with  the  Whig 
party.  When  this  party  was  abandoned  by 
the  organization  of  the  Republicans,  he  rallied 
to  the  support  of  the  latter  and  continued  their  firm 
adherent  to  the  end  of  his  life.  He  was  strongly 
opposed  to  slavery  and  was  one  of  the  most  active 
members  of  the  Abolition  party  whenever  the 
question  of  human  freedom  was  agitated.  His  son, 
our  subject,  is  imbued  with  the  same  principles  and 
affiliates  with  the  same  party  to  which  his  father 
belonged  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Nelson  R.  Green  was  a  youth  of  eighteen  years 
at  the  death  of  the  father,  and  a  year  later  came  to 
Central  Illinois  and  commenced  work  as  a  farm 
laborer  at  $10  per  month.  In  1853  he  was  em- 
ployed in  a  sawmill  at  $16  per  month.  He  had 
been  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and  economy, 
however,  and  saved  his  earnings,  so  that  by  June, 
1854,  he  had  a  cash  capital  of  $300,  and  a  good 
team  of  horses.  This  was  considered  a  fair  start  in 
those  days  and  he  felt  fully  justified  in  beginning 
to  think  about  a  home  of  his  own  and  some  one  to 
share  his  fortune.  The  maiden  of  his  choice  was 
Miss  Mavy  E.,  daughter  of  Job  W.  and  Martha 
(Archer)  Brown,  and  they  were  married  at  the 
home  of  the  bride's  parents  in  Ashmore  Township, 
Jan.  19,  1854.  Mr.  Brown  was  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  -Illinois  and  located  first  in  Edgar 
County,  where  the  wife  of  our  subject  was  horn  on 
the  7th  of  September,  1 835.  After  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Green  his  employer  offered  him  $20  per 
month  and  a  house  to  live  in  if  he  would  continue 
in  the  mill,  but  he  was  obliged  to  decline  on  ac- 
count of  his  health  which  would  not  permit  con- 


tinuous indoor  employment.  He  accordingly 
i  rented  a  tract  of  land  and  the  first  season  sowed 
fifteen  acres  of  wheat,  forty  acres  of  oats,  and 
planted  sixty  acres  of  corn.  He  labored  early  and 
late,  but  the  season  proved  unfavorable  and  at  the 
i  end  he  harvested  but  225  bushels  of  wheat,  eleven 
bushels  of  oats  and  200  bushels  of  corn.  This  was 
rather  discouraging  to  begin  with,  and  during  the 
following  winter  he  was  glad  to  work  for  his  father- 
in-law  at  fifty  cents  per  day.  In  the  spring,  how- 
ever, he  determined  to  try  farming  again  on  his 
own  account,  and  leased  another  tract  of  laud.  He 
was  fairly  successful  this  year  but  begrudged  the 
paying  of  rent,  and  in  1860  managed  to  secure 
possession  of  seventy-three  and  one-half  acres  of 
land,  for  which  he  contracted  to  pay  $1,400,  $1.000 
in  cash  down.  Eighteen  months  later  he  cancelled 
his  indebtedness  and  had  a  home  which  he  could 
call  his  own.  His  property  lay  on  section  11,  in 
Ashmore  Township,  and  he  occupied  the  home- 
stead thus  established  for  more  than  twenty-five 
years  and  until  Jan.  25,  1886,  when  he  took 
possession  of  the  place  he  now  occupies.  He  still 
retains  possession  of  his  farm,  which  is  operated  by 
a  tenant,  and  from  which  he  realizes  annually  a 
handsome  income. 

The  first  agricultural  fair  ever  held  in  Coles 
County  occupied  a  strip  of  pasture  then  owned  by 
Nathan  Ellington,  but  which  is  now  a  portion  of 
the  site  of  Charleston.  Mr.  Green  and  his  father- 
in-law  attended,  the  latter  exhibiting  stock  and  re- 
ceiving a  goodly  share  of  the  premiums.  Each 
year  since  then  Mr.  Green  has  been  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  agricultural  society,  and  is  uniformly 
found  in  attendance.  One  year  he  exhibited  a 
three-year-old  that  "tipped  the  beam"  at  1,000 
pounds. 

Mr.  Green  during  his  youth  received  very  lim- 
ited ad  vantages  and  has  been  painfully  aware  of  the 
difficulties  encountered  by  those  but  imperfectly 
versed  in  the  common  branches  of  education.  In 
order  that  his  children  should  not  labor  under  this 
difficulty,  he  determined  to  leave  the  farm  and  re- 
move to  a  point  where  they  could  avail  themselves 
of  competent  instructors.  The  household  circle 
was  completed  by  the  birth  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  two  died  when  young  and  nine  are  still 


T 


i 


300 


COLES   COUNTY. 


living.  Jonathan  W.  and  George  A.  are  prosper- 
ous farmers  of  Edwards  Count}',  Kan.;  Lulu  is  the 
wife  of  Maiden  Conelly,  and  a-  resident  of  Hodge- 
man  County,  Kan.  Those  unmarried  and  at  home 
are  William  A.,  Leonard,  Carrie,  Claude  ().,  Charles 
N.  and  Eugene  D.  They  have  all  inherited  the 
worthy  qualities  of  both  parents,  and  form  a  family 
group  of  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  have  reason  to 
be  proud. 


\|/  ONATHAN  N.  SNAPP,  after  many  years 
spent  iii  honorable  toil,  is  now  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  his  early  labors,  and  on  a  fine  home- 
stead in  Mattoon  Township  lives  at  his  ease, 
amid  the  affection  of  his  children  and  the  good- 
will of  his  neighbors.  His  history  briefly  recorded 
is  in  its  main  points  as  follows:  His  birth  took 
place  in  Washington  County,  Teun.,  March  6, 1832, 
and  he  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Hepzibah  (Waddill) 
Snapp,  his  father  of  German  ancestry,  but  born  on 
the  ocean  while  his  parents  were  coming  to  this 
country.  The  mother  was  born  in  Tennessee  near 
Jonesboro. 

Our  subject  remained  with  his  parents,  who  had 
moved  at  an  early  day  to  this  county,  until  the 
death  of  his  father,  which  took  place  when  he  was 
a  young  child,  and  as  soon  as  of  suitable  years  was 
made  acquainted  with  honest  and  useful  labor,  so 
that  upon  reaching  his  majority  he  was  fully  com- 
petent to  "paddle  Lhis  own  canoe."  After  three 
years  spent  in  California  he  purchased  seventy  acres 
of  land  on  section  30,  in  Mattoon  Township.  He 
was  married,  Sept.  4,  1856,  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Clarke, 
whose  parents.  William  and  Sarah  Ann  Clarke,  are 
treated  of  elsewhere  in  this  book. 

The  young  people  first  located  on  a  farm  adjoin- 
ing their  own  land,  and  thence  removed  to  section 
32,  on  laud  owned  by  the  brother  of  our  subject. 
After  a  sojourn  there  of  eighteen  years,  they  re- 
moved across  the  Mississippi  into  Barton  County, 
Kan.,  where  our  subject  purchased  a  quarter  sec- 
tion, which  he  occupied  four  years.  From  there 
he  emigrated  to  Bates  County,  Mo.,  and  three 
years  later  eastward  across  the  Mississippi,  until 
reaching  the  old  homestead  in  Illinois,  where  he 


took  up  his  abode  and  where  he  has  since  remained. 
Here  he  has  reared  his  children,  and  desires  noth- 
ing better  than  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days 
amid  the  scenes  of  his  early  youth.  While  watch- 
ing the  development  of  his  adopted  State  with 
interest  and  satisfaction,  he  has  meddled  very  little 
with  public  affairs,  simply  casting  his  vote  with  the 
Republicans  upon  occasions  of  general  elections. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snapp  are  members  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and  have 
carefully  reared  their  three  children  in  the  same 
faith.  These  are  Mary  H.,  now  the  wife  of  B.  F. 
Bell,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Mattoon  Township; 
Jonathan  E.  and  William  H.  are  unmarried.  Aside 
from  his  services  as  Constable,  Mr.  Suapp  has  de- 
clined becoming  an  office-seeker,  content  to  remain 
as  a  private  and  unobtrusive  citizen,  and  priding 
himself  upon  attending  strictty  to  his  own  business. 


W.  WOODS,  a  well-known  mer- 
chant  and  insurance  agent  in  Humbolt,  is 
now  Postmaster  of  the  place,  having  been 
appointed  to  that  position  Sept.  1,  1885,  by  Presi- 
dent Cleveland.  He  was  born  Feb.  22,  1837,  in 
Rush  County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Lucy  (Pitts)  Woods.  John  Woods  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  but  removed  from  that  State  and  be- 
came one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Rush  County, 
Ind.  He  had  been  brought  up  to  the  hatter's 
trade  in  his  native  State,  but  preferring  an  agricult- 
ural life,  relinquished  his  trade  and  purchased  a 
farm  in  Rush  County.  His  wife,  Lucy  Pitts,  was 
a  native  of  Virginia. 

George  Woods  received  his  education  at  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  county,  and  made 
good  use  of  the  limited  advantages  there  provide,!. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  left  home  and  began  the 
world  for  himself.  He  was  occupied  in  farming 
two  years,  and  Sept.  1,  1859,  married  Miss 
Sarah  Junken.  Mrs.  Woods  is  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Catherine  (Wilson)  Junken.  Her 
family  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  but  removed 
to  Indiana  at  an  early  day,  where  their  daugh- 
ter Sarah  was  born  Feb.  19,  1830.  They 
subsequently  removed  to  Illinois,  at  the  same 


LILIVU  Y 

OF   THE 

W.VERSIIY  tf  ILLINOIS 


RESIDENCE  OF  DAVID  SANDERS. SEC. 19.  HUTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOS.H.WATKINS.SEC.S.  SEVEN  HICKORY  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OFDR.W.D.  MORGAN,  RARDLN  JLU. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


303 


time  that  George  Woods  came  to  this  State,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Coles  County.  Immediately 
after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Woods  rented  a  farm,  which 
he  conducted  two  years,  and  then,  upon  the  divis- 
ion of  his  father-in-law's  estate,  located  on  section 
8,  and  took  possession  of  the  home  place.  This 
property  contained  nearly  a  section  ol  valuable 
land  of  which  he  secured  eighty  acres  which  he 
cultivated  and  improved  about  five  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Humbolt,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Woods  had  previously  been  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  and  his  residence  ou  the  farm  was 
occasioned  by  the  death  of  his  wife's  mother.  She 
was  an  only  daughter,  and  her  father  felt  so  keenly 
the  death  of  his  wife  and  the  loneliness  of  the  home- 
stead deprived  of  her  beloved  presence,  that  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Woods  relinquished  their  own  plans  in 
order  to  cheer  _his  solitude  and  afford  him  com- 
panionship. After  spending  five  years  on  the  farm 
Mr.  Woods  returned  to  town  and  resumed  his 
former  business.  His  father-in-law  accompanied 
the  family,  and  passed  the  declining  years  of  his 
life  in  their  home,  and  died  there  in  November, 
1874. 

Mr.  Woods  was  successfully  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile line  about  twelve  years,  during  which  time 
under  the  credit  system  he  found  himself  cramped, 
and  further  desiring  a  change  of  occupation  for 
rest  from  the  duties  in  which  he  had  been  for  so 
many  years  engrossed,  he  sold  out,  and  engaged  in 
the  insurance  business.  At  that  time  he  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  about  seven  years,  although  his  time  was 
given  more  exclusively  to  the  insurance  business. 
Since  Sept.  10,  1885,  he  has  served  as  Postmaster, 
giving  general  satisfaction  in  the  discharge  of  the 
responsibilities  of  that  position.  He  is  a  public- 
spirited  man,  has  served  as  Treasurer  on  the  Board 
of  Highway  Commissioners,  and  also  as  Town 
Clerk  three  terms  and  Collector  two  terms. 

Our  subject  and  wife  have  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, whose  names  are  as  follows:  Elbert  J., 
James  C.,  John  A.,  Ellis  H.  and  Katie  May.  El- 
bert married  Miss  Annie  Sayer,  and  lives  on  a  farm 
near  town.  Mr.  Woods  was  educated  as  a  teacher 
and  has  hitherto  been  engaged  in  that  vocation, 
but  his  natural  inclination  leads  him  to  perfer 


agricultural  pursuits.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woods  are 
members  of  the  Old-School  Presb3'terian  Church,  in 
which  the  former  serves  as  Trustee.  In  politics 
Mr.  Woods  is  an  old-line  Democrat,  and  a  stanch 
adherent  to  the  principles  of  his  party,  although  he 
is  liberal  in  political  affairs,  and  strictly  partisan  in 
none.  He  is,  however,  strictly  of  the  belief  that 
the  Democrats  never  make  mistakes  in  their  nom- 
inees. 


ADISON  GLASSCO,  deceased,  formerly  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Charleston,  was  born 
in  Hardin  County,  Ky.,  July  21,  1824. 
His  parents,  Enoch  and  Rachel  Glassco, 
were  among  the  pioneers  of  Coles  County.  They 
removed  from  Kentucky  to  thisStatein  1830,  when 
the  county  was  a  wilderness,  and  the  Indian  tribes 
in  the  vicinity,  which  had  not  then  been  wholly 
subdued,  rendered  life  on  the  Western  frontier  a 
perilous  enterprise.  However,  they  settled  here, 
and  it  was  not  long  before  peace  was  established 
and  the  prosperity  of  Illinois  began.  They  passed 
their  lives  in  this  county, and  died  leaving  a  family 
of  ten  children. 

Madison  Glassco  was  a  child  when  his  parents 
settled  in  Illinois,  and  grew  up  inured  to  the  priva- 
tions and  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  Struggling 
with  difficulties  and  trials,  however,  developed  that 
energy  and  strength  of  character  which  fitted  him 
to  take  a  leading  part  in  the  building  up  of  a  new 
country.  He  was  married,  Dec.  24,  1846,  to  Miss 
Anna  Frost.  Mrs.  Glassco  is  the  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Sarah  Frost,  and  was  born  June  4,  1828, 
in  Virginia.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  her  mother  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  like- 
wise among  the  pioneers  of  Illinois,  having  moved 
to  this  State  in  1829.  The  death  of  both  occurred 
in  this  county,  and  Mrs.  Glassco  is  now  the  only 
survivor  of  her  father's  family. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Glassco  settled  on  a  farm, 
and  devoted  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits  with 
so  much  energy  and  skill  that  he  met  with  marked 
success.  He  commenced  life  a  poor  boy,  and  by 
his  own  exertions  acquired  a  fine  property,  but 
during  the  panic  of  1873  he  met  with  reverses, 


304 


COLES    COUNTY. 


caused  by  the  failure  of  a  business  house  in  Charles- 
ton, for  which  he  had  become  security.  He  lost 
$31,000  in  money  and  some  of  his  valuable  land 
was  sold  by  the  sheriff  at  &50  per  acre.  The 
trouble  which  these  losses  involved  probably  hast- 
ened his  death,  which  occurred  March  19,  1876. 

Mr.  Glassco  was  a  very  successful  dealer  in  live- 
stock, and  notwithstanding  his  losses,  at  his  death 
left  an  estate  containing  700  acres  of  valuable  land. 
He  had  served  as  Supervisor  of  the  township,  and 
in  politics  always  voted  with  the  Republican  party. 
Mr.  Glassco  was  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  a  man  whose  up- 
rightness and  integrity  of  character  won  the  respect 
of  all  who  knew  him.  A  family  of  eight  children 
was  born  to  him,  only  three  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing— Emmet  T.,  Ella  and  Elizabeth,  all  of  whom 
are  married. 


/ILLIAM  II.  COCHRAN,  a  farmer  residing 
on  section  14,  Seven  Hickory  Township, 
has  the  misfortune  to  be  afflicted  with  blind- 
ness, occasioned  by  disease  contracted  while  serving 
his  country  in  the  Civil  War.  He  was  born  Sept. 
4,  1837.  in  Floyd  County.  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Louisa  (Anderson)  Cochran.  His 
grandfather  was  a,  native  of  Scotland,  whose  family 
settled  in  the  United  States;  in  his  early  life  he 
served  in  the  War  of  1812.  His  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Kentucky,  although  his  wife's  family  was 
originally  from  Virginia.  Louisa  Anderson  was  an 
only  child,  and  her  mother  died  at  the  time  of  her 
birth.  Her  marriage  to  William  Cochran  took 
place  in  Kentucky,  and  soon  after  they  removed  to 
Indiana,  and  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Floyd 
County,  where  they  made  their  permanent  home. 
Mr.  Cochran  died  in  the  prime  of  life  at  the  age  of 
forty-six  years.  His  widow  survived  him  many 
years,  and  her  life  went  out  with  the  closing  days 
of  the  year  1869.  She  was  buried  on  the  first  day 
of  the  New  Year. 

A  family  of  nine  children  was  born  to  William 
and  Louisa  Cochran,  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
Sarah  died  in  childhood;  Mary  was  the  wife  of 
George  K.  Erwin,  of  Floyd  County,  Ind.;  both  are 


deceased;  the  former  died  in  1859,  in  Indiana, and 
the  latter  in  1880,  in  Kansas;  they  had  a  family  of 
five  children.  Susanna  became  the  wife  of  Alex- 
ander Brocard,  a  resident  of  Floyd  Count}',  by 
whom  she  had  a  family  of  six  children;  in  1871  she 
was  left  a  widow,  and  subsequently  married  Will- 
iam L.  Wright,  of  which  union  two  children  were 
born.  William  H.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Maria,  the  wife  of  Alva  E.  Hodge,  resides  in  Floyd 
County,  Ind.,  and  has  a  family  of  eight  children; 
Samuel,  a  carriage  manufacturer,  also  residing  in 
Floyd  County,  has  a  family  of  eight  children;  Har- 
riet E.  has  been  three  times  married;  her  first  hus- 
band, Green  H.  Neeled,  by  whom  she  had  three 
children,  died  in  1879;  her  second  husband.  Lee 
Onan,  died  in  1883;  she  is  now  the  wife  of  B.  H. 
Bacon.  Julia  and  Preston  died  in  childhood. 

William  H.  Cochran  remained  at  home  with  his 
widowed  mother,  assisting  her  in  carrying  on  the 
farm,  and  also  attending  the  common  schools  until 
he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age.  Sept.  4,  1859,  he 
married  Miss  Catherine  Roberts.  Mrs.  Cochran  is 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  (Kenoyer) 
Roberts,  and  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Ind. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  her 
mother  of  Ohio.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  in  infancy ;  the  names  of 
the  remaining  six  are  :  Mary  Ann,  deceased ;  Eliza- 
beth; Nelson,  deceased;  Catherine,  Simpson  and 
Maria  Jane.  Her  parents  now  reside  in  Dade 
County,  Mo. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Cochran  lived  at  home 
until  1862.  He  then  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  93d  Ind. 
Vol.  Inf.  While  in  camp  he  was  stricken  down 
with  typhoid  fever,  and  during  his  illness  erysipelas 
set  in,  which  resulted  in  blindness,  and  all  means  to 
restore  his  sight  'have  hitherto  proved  unavailing. 
Mr.  Cochran  bears  this  affliction  with  great  fortitude, 
and  he  is  able  to  some  extent  to  supervise  the  work 
on  his  farm,  assisted  by  his  sons.  In  the  autumn  of 
1863  Mr.  Cochran  first  came  to  Coles  County  and 
purchased  the  place  where  he  now  resides  in  Seven 
Hickoiy  Township.  He  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock-raising. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cochran  had  a  family  of  six  sons 
born  to  them :  John  William  died  in  infancy ; 
Charles  N.,  born  Jan.  25,  1865,  was  married  Dec, 


•. 


t. 


COLES    COUNTY. 


305 


16,  1886,  to  Miss  Sarah  Harris,  of  Cumberland 
County,  and  resides  in  Morgan  County  ;  Frederick 
A.,  born  Aug.  8,  1870;  Dudley  S,,  Oct.  30,  1873; 
Clarence  McDonald.  Sept.  22,  1876.  and  Jesse  E., 
Feb.  16,  1879.  Frederick,  Dudle}>-  and  Jesse  reside 
at  the  homestead.  Mr.  Cochran  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican. 


ET.  GLASSCO,  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
and  substantial  farmers  of  Coles  County, 
resides  on  section  9,  Charleston  Township. 
He  is  the  only  surviving  son  of  Madison  and  Anna 
E.  (Frost)  Glassco,  and  was  born  Sept.  27,  1852, 
in  this  township.  He  was  reared  at  the  homestead, 
where  he  acquired  a  practical  knowledge  of  farm- 
ing and  also  received  an  excellent  common-school 
education.  On  the  oth  of  September,  1882,  Mr. 
Glassco  was  married  to  Miss  Lizzie  Birch.  Mrs. 
Glassco  is  the  daughter  of  George  and  Parthenia 
Birch,  and  was  born  July  7,  1859,  in  Clark  County, 
111.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Glassco  leased  his 
father-in-law's  farm,  which  he  cultivated  two 
seasons,  and  in  the  meantime  erected  a  tasteful  and 
commodious  farm  residence  on  his  own  farm,  which 
ranks  among  the  best  in  the  county.  He  owns  173 
acres  of  valuable  land,  and  in  stock-growing  gives 
special  attention  to  raising  Polled-Ang'us  cattle. 

Like  his  father,  Mr.  Glassoo  is  very  successful 
in  all  of  his  business  enterprises,  and  his  integrity 
of  character  and  genial  disposition  have  won  a 
large  circle  of  friends  by  whom  he  is  held  in  high 
esteem.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glassco  have  one  son  liv- 
ing, Walter  E.  Two  other  sons  were  born  to  them, 
who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Glassco  is  a  Republican 
in  politics. 


eOL.   JOHN   COFER,  deceased,   formerly  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Rural  Retreat,   Doug- 
las Co.,  111.,  was  born  July  9,  1804,  in  Cane 
Spring,  Bullitt  Co.,  Ky.,  and  was  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Sarah  Winn  (Griffin)  Gofer,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  Thom- 
as Gofer  was   born  in  1781    at  Old  Limestone  Fort, 
Va.,  and  his  father,  William  Cofer,  emigrated  from 
that  State   to  Kentucky.       Mrs.   Sarah   Griffin,  iiee 


Winn,  was  born  in  Maryland,  and  her  marriage  to 
Thomas  Cofer  took  place  in  Kentucky,  where  she 
was  at  the  time  residing. 

Col.  Cofer  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  his  early  advantages  for  education  were  very 
limited,  but  his  native  mental  abilities  were  of  a 
high  order.  He  possessed  a  thoughtful,  inquiring 
mind,  and  took  advantage  of  every  opportunity  to 
satisfy  his  craving  for  knowledge,  and  readily  ac- 
quired a  vast  fund  of  general  information,  He  was 
a  profound  thinker  on  all  subjects  of  National. and 
social  importance,  a  ready  reasoner,  and  an  apt  and 
forcible  writer.  From  his  early  youth  he  was  a 
stanch  Whig,  and  warmly  sustained  the  principles 
of  political  and  social  economy  advanced  b3'  that 
party.  He  represented  Hardin  County,  Ky.,  in  the 
Lower  House  of  the  Legislature  in  1838-39  and 
from  1841.  to  1848.  His  superior  ability  in  the 
management  of  public  affairs  was  then  recognized 
by  his  election  to  the  Senate,  where  he  represented 
Hardin,  Meade  and  La  Rue  Counties  until  1850. 
He  warmly  advocated  economy  in  public  expendi- 
tures, and  an  improved  system  in  the  general  edu- 
cational and  charitable  institutions  of  the  State. 

Col.  Cofer  originated  and  aided  in  drafting  and 
passing  the  bill  chartering  the  Louisville  &  Nash- 
ville Railroad  Company,  which  is  now  the  most 
prosperous  corporation  in  Kentucky.  At  the  time 
when  railroad  enterprises  were  unknown  in  that 
State,  he  was  one  of  a  committee  sent  to  investi- 
gate the  operations  of  the  Eastern  and  Western 
Roads,  with  a  view  to  securing  similar  advantages 
for  Kentucky,  and  his  earnest  and  eloquent  appeals 
to  the  people  along  the  line  of  the  proposed  road 
aided  largely  in  inducing  them  to  offer  voluntary 
subscriptions  of  the  stock,  which  secured  to  them 
the  building  of  their  first  railroad.  After  retiring 
from  the  Senate  in  1854,  he  disposed  of  his  interest 
in  Kentucky  and  moved  to  Rural  Retreat,  which  at 
that  time  was  in  Coles  County.  He  was  soon 
chosen  Postmaster  of  the  place,  and  in  1856  was 
one  of  the  Electors  on  the  Fillmore  ticket,  and  in 
I860  was  an  Elector  on  the  Bell  and  Everett  ticket. 

During  the  Civil  War  Col.  Cofer  was  rigid  in  his 
adherence  to  the  Union  cause,  and  from  1  860  was 
independent  in  politics,  voting  for  the  man  whom 
he  considered  best  fitted  for  the  position,  without 


f 


4  >    306 


COLES   COUNTY. 


regard  to  party.  He  usually  sustained  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  however,  but  was  firmly  opposed  to 
nullification  and  secession;  his  views  of  emancipa- 
tion favored  the  gradual  colonization  policy.  In 
1871-72  he  represented  Douglas  County  in  the 
General  Assembly  with  his  accustomed  zeal  and 
ability,  which  closed  his  career  as  a  representative 
law-maker  of  Illinois. 

Col.  Gofer's  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Eleanor  Ma- 
gill  took  place  Dec.  1,  1825.  Mrs.  Gofer  was  born 
Feb.  7,  1807,  in  Annapolis,  Md.,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Helen  (Stockett)  Magill.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Maryland,  and  her  great- 
grandfather, Rev.  James  Magill,  was  the  first  minis- 
ter ordained  to  preach  in  America,  of  the  Church 
of  England.  He  was  a  faithful  worker  for  the  Mas- 
ter in  the  old  Colonial  days  from  1730  to  1736. 
Her  grandfather's  name  was  John  Magill.  Mrs. 
Cofer's  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Thomas 
(Noble)  Stockett,  a  prominent  physician  of  An- 
napolis. 

Col.  Gofer  was  a  man  of  temperate  habits,  and  by 
his  industry  and  enterprise  acquired  a  fine  property, 
which  enabled  him  to  provide  all  of  his  children 
with  comfortable  homes.  His  family  consisted  of 
ten  children:  Elvira  Ann,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
William  D.  Martin,  a  resident  of  Kentucky;  she 
left  a  family  of  four  children.  Thomas  N.,  deceased  ; 
Robert  A.,  deceased  ^married  Miss  Catherine  A.  Du- 
vall;  John  S.,  deceased,  married  Miss  Sarah  K. 
Wyeth;  Charles  F.,  deceased;  Mary  H.  married 
David  T.  Shirley,  and  resides  in  Texas;  she  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  one  of  whom,  David  T., 
died  March  5,  1881,  in  Cook  County,  Tex.  Thom- 
as N.  (2d)  married  Miss  Rachel  E.  Combes,  and  re- 
sides in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  Coles  County: 
William  Henry  married  Miss  Margaret  Daily,  of 
Lerna;they  have  a  famil}'  of  four  children,  and  re- 
side in  Gainesville,  Tex.  Henrietta  M.,  deceased, 
married  Thomas  Midwinter,  and  left  one  daughter, 
who  resides  in  Arcola,  Douglas  Co.,  111.;  Susan  A. 
married  H.  M.  McCrory,  and  lives  in  Hardmau 
County,  Tex. 

Col.  Cofer  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  They  were  both  earnest,  sin- 
core  Christians,  and  were  actively  interested  in 
building  up  the  cause  of  Christ  on  the  Western 


frontier,  giving  liberally  both  of  their  time  and 
means,  in  that  labor  of  love.  Col.  Cofer  died  Feb. 
|  12,  1881,  in  Cook  County,  Tex.,  at  the  home  of 
j  his  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  McCrory,  where  he 
had  gone  for  his  health.  His  widow  still  survives 
him,  and  has  now  reached  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty  years.  She  possesses  a  fine  physique,  and  is 
well  preserved,  hale  and  hearty.  She  resides  with 
I  her  son,  Thomas  N.  Cofer.  Col.  Cofer  was  a  wise 
counselor  in  public  affairs,  and  in  every  relation  of 
life  bore  the  character  of  a  thorough  Christian 
gentleman.  In  his  home  he  was  a  kind  and  loving 
husband  and  father,  and  courteous  and  hospitable 
to  all.  During  his  later  years  he  devoted  a  great 
deal  of  his  time  to  the  compilation  of  an  autobi- 
ography, to  leave  to  his  children,  and  had  reached 
the  proof  sheets  when  his  work  was  cut  short  by 
death. 


f  AMES  WALLACE  is  a  farmer  .and  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Ashmore  Township, 
residing  on  section  22.  He  was  born  April 
||P  6,  1849,  in  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  is  the 
son  of  William  and  Ellen  (Davis)  Wallace.  His 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  and  his  mother 
is  still  living,  having  reached  the  age  of  seventy- 
six  years.  His  father's  death  occurred  in  1856. 
He  had  been  a  farmer  in  Ohio,  and  died  when 
James  was  but  seven  years  of  age.  The  family 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  par- 
ental household  included  the  following  children: 
Thomas,  who  is  living  in  California;  Nancy  J.,  a 
resident  of  Indiana;  Margaret,  who  is  residing  in 
Kansas;  William  H.,  deceased;  George,  a  resident 
of  Illinois;  Eliza  A.,  who  makes  her  home  in  Mis- 
souri; Elizabeth,  a  resident  of  Illinois;  one  died  at 
four  years  of  age ;  James,  the  subject  of  this  biog- 
raphy; Jessie,  who  lives  in  Kansas,  and  Pamelia, 
deceased. 

James  Wallace  was  engaged  in  farming  by  the 
month  until  his  marriage,  when  he  began  business 
for  himself,  and  purchased  a  small  farm  with  one 
horse.  He  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  fifty-nine  acres, 
and  eight  valuable  horses  of  Clydesdale  extraction, 
sixteen  head  of  steers,  and  five  cows  and  heifers. 
His  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  Childress  took  place 


COLES   COUNTY. 


30? 


Jau.  12,  1873.  She  is  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Catherine  (Hogue)  Childress,  and  was  horn  in  this 
township  in  1854.  Her  father  is  a  farmer  and  a  na- 
tive of  Tennessee.  He  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  township,  and  formerly  held  the  office  of  Com- 
missioner of  Highways.  He  is  still  living,  but  his 
wife's  death  occurred  in  March,  1884.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wallace  have  three  children :  Elizabeth,  born 
Oct.  26,  1873;  Permelia  C.,  June  28,  1877;  John 
W.,  Dec.  6,  1878. 

Mr.  Wallace  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  quali- 
fications, and  is  actively  interested  in  all  the  public 
affairs  of  the  county.  He  has  been  School  Director 
for  the  last  six  years,  and  Constable  of  the  town- 
ship four  years,  and  has  been  re-elected  to  the  lat- 
ter office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
in  which  his  family  take  au  active  interest.  He  is 
a  wide-awake,  energetic,  progessive  man,  and  re- 
cently spent  five  months  traveling  through  the  States 
of  Kansas,  Missouri  and  Indiana.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  socially  belongs  to  Kansas 
Lodge  No.  633,  I.  O.  O.  F. 


J'~1OHN  JOHNSON.  The  early  home  of  the 
|  subject  of  this  history  was  on  the  other  side 
]  of  the  Atlantic,  in  County  Fermanagh,  Ire- 
•  land,  where  his  father  carried  on  a  small 
farm.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Anna  (Bell) 
Johnson,  natives  of  the  same  country  but  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  was  the  eighth  child  in  a  family  of  ten. 
Our  subject  early  in  life  bore  a  strong  resemblance 
to  his  father,  but  afterward  his  features  seemed  to 
change  and  he  grew  like  his  mother.  John  John- 
son, in  1850,  accompanied  by  all  his  family  with 
the  exception  of  one  son,  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  leaving  the  shores  of  his  native  Island  on 
the  loth  of  May.  The  voyage  was  made  on  a  sail- 
ing-vessel, and  after  landing  in  New  York,  the  elder 
Johnson  proceeded  shortly  to  Peru,  111.,  then  to 
Moultrie  County,  where  he  located  and  followed 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1864. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  lad  twelve  years 
of  age  when  he  sailed    with  his  father's   family  for 


America,  and  remembers  many  of  the  incidents 
connected  with  the  preparations  .and  the  voyage. 
He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  a 
limited  education  in  the  district  schools.  The  father 
had  purchased  120  acres  of  land  wholly  on  credit, 
but  met  his  payments  promptly  and  became  a  man 
of  means,  so  that  he  was  enabled  to  assist  his  sons 
to  a  good  start  in  life.  Upon  becoming  of  suitable 
age  our  subject  and  his  five  brothers  engaged  to- 
gether in  raising  stock,  feeding  each  year  hundreds 
of  cattle  and  hogs.  They  also  purchased  land  to- 
gether, and  owned  in  the  aggregate  about  1,800 
acres.  One  of  the  brothers,  James,  was  killed  on 
the  26th  of  May,  1883,  by  the  explosion  of  a  port- 
able boiler.  Two  others  since  then  have  partially 
withdrawn  from  the  partnership,  and  the  two  re- 
maining, John  and  Fred,  still  continue  together. 

The  vvife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried Jan.  22,  1868,  was  formerly  Miss  Martha  E. 
Smith.  Mrs.  J.  is  the  daughter  of  William  Harri- 
son and  Mary  (Osborne)  Smith,  natives  of  Ohio 
and  Tennessee  respectively.  Her  paternal  grand- 
parents were  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (Willis)  Smith. 
After  their  marriage  our  subject  and  wife  settled 
on  a  farm  in  North  Okaw  Township,  where  they 
lived  about  ten  years,  and  thence  removed  to  their 
present  residence  in  Humbolt  Township.  The 
homestead  embraces  300  acres  of  valuable  land, 
and  is  supplied  with  a  substantial  set  of  frame 
buildings.  The  industry  and  enterprise  of  Mr. 
Johnson  are  displayed  on  every  hand,  in  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  farm,  the  care  of  the  stock,  and 
the  neatness  and  good  order  which  prevail  in  every 
department. 

The  six  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  are 
all  living  and  at  home  with  their  parents.  They 
were  named  respectively,  William,  Alice,  John, 
Walter,  Clarence  and  May.  Their  father,  realizing 
the  disadvantages  of  a  limited  education,  is  do- 
ing all  in  his  power  to  advance  the  interests  of 
his  children  in  this  direction.  The  elder  ones  are 
taking  a  collegiate  course,  and  the  others  will  fol- 
low if  their  inclinations  are  in  that  direction.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  J.  are  prominently  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  the  support  of  which 
they  have  always  contributed  liberally  and  cheer- 
fully. Mr.  Johnson  meddles  very  little  with  politi- 


t  .    308 


COLES   COUNTY. 


i 


cal  matters,  but  usually  votes  with  the  Democratic- 
party. 

The  farm  of  our  subject  is  largely  devoted  to  the 
raising  of  fine  stock,  including  horses,  cattle,  hogs 
and  sheep.  At  the  head  of  his  stables  is  a  magnifi- 
cent animal  named  John  I.,  valued  at  $5,000.  On 
account  of  the  diseases  incident  to  hogs  and  sheep 
in  this  section,  he  has  somewhat  lost  his  interest  in 
these.  Of  late  he  has  interested  himself  in  bee- 
keeping, and  has  bred  up  his  hives  to  a  very  high 
grade  with  choice  Italian  queens.  In  partnership 
with  Dr.  James  McDougal,  of  Humbolt  Township, 
Mr.  Johnson  is  largely  engaged  in  the  breeding  of 
Norman  horses,  of  which  they  usually  keep  about 
thirty-five  head  in  hand,  ranging  in  value  from 
about  $200  to  *1,000. 


HARLES  CURTIS  is  an  extensive  farmer 
and  stock-grower,  residing  on  section  1, 
East  Oakland  Township.  He  is  the  sou  of 
Nicholas  and  Sarah  (Hunt)  Curtis,  and  was  born  in 
this  township,  Dec.  15,  1841.  His  parents  were 
natives  of  Ohio,  where  they  were  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Attracted  by  the  advantages  for  farming  and 
stock-raising  offered  by  the  fertile  State  of  Illinois 
they  moved  here  in  1839.  Nicholas  Curtis  died  in 
middle  life,  and  his  widow  is  still  living. 

Charles  Curtis  has  been  twice  married,  first  in 
1864,  when  he  was  united  to  Miss  Martha  J.  H.-.n- 
nar.  The  home  circle  was  broken  by  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  January,  1874.  She  had  become 
the  mother  of  five  children,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  They  were  as  follows:  Sarah  R.,  William, 
James  William,  Lucinda,  who  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  J. 
Eads,  and  Roddy  Ellsworth.  Mr.  Curtis  was 
united  in  marriage  the  second  time,  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Yearger,  the  daughter  of  John  Yearger.  Her 
family  is  of  German  descent,  and  her  parents  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Like  many  other  citizens 
of  foreign  extraction  Mr.  Yearger  cheerfully  left 
his  home  and  business  to  serve  in  the  Civil  War  in 
defense  of  his  country,  and  while  thus  engaged 
contracted  a  disease  from  exposure  and  hardship 
which  resulted  in  his  death.  His  widow  is  still  liv- 
ing, and  in  consideration  of  her  husband's  services 


in  the  war.  she  is  drawing  a  small  pension.  Six 
children  were  born  of  the  second  marriage  of  our 
subject  —  Alfred,  O.,  deceased  ;  John  S.,  Lulie,  Ella 
S.,  Alva,  and  an  infant  unnamed. 

Mr.  Curtis  enlisted  during  the  late  war  in  Co.  K, 
63d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  his  country  faithfully 
for  over  three  years.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Jones- 
boro,  111.,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  Cairo,  where  he 
remained  three  mouths  and  was  then  ordered  to  Cor- 
inth. He  was  engaged  in  several  important  battles. 
He  fought  at  the  memorable  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge, 
where  the  cannon  thundered  and  the  musketry  rat- 
tled like  hail  around  him.  He  was  with  the  army 
at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  preparing  for  the  siege  at  At- 
lanta, and  he  there  obtained  a  thirty  days'  fur- 
lough. It  was  on  this  occasion  that  he  returned 
home  and  married  his  first  wife.  But  he  was  at  his 
post  again,  leaving  the  comforts  and  pleasures  of 
home  at  the  call  of  duty,  for  the  hardships  and  pos- 
sible death  of  the  battle-field.  He  marched  with 
Sherman  to  the  sea  and  on  to  Washington,  from 
thence  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  celebrated  the  4th  of 
July  at  home.  He  afterward  returned  to  his  regi- 
ment and  was  mustered  out  at  Springfield,  111.  Ex- 
hausted by  hardship  and  exposure  he  was  an  in- 
valid most  of  the  time  for  two  years  after  his  re- 
turn. and  now  suffers  greatly  from  rheumatism.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  Oakland  Post  No. 
188,  and  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

Mr.  Curtis  owns  a  fine  estate  of  170  acres  of  val- 
uable, improved  land,  upon  which  in  1844  he 
erected  a  substantial  farm  residence.  His  house 
has  a  large  and  commodious  cellar,  and  all  of  its 
appointments  are  adapted  to  home  comfort.  In 
stock-growing  he  has  been  especially  successful  in 
raising  the  finest  breed  of  hogs. 


RODERICK  JOHNSON,  one  of  the  reliable 
and  substantial  farmers  of  North  Okaw 
Township,  spent  his  earliest  years  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  where  his  birth  took  place 
in  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  Feb.  29,  1840.  He 
was  the  ninth  child  of  John  and  Annie  (Bell)  John- 
sou,  also  natives  of  County  Fermanagh,  and  a 


"4 


I 


COLES   COUNTY. 


309 


sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  His  education  was  begun  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  the  United  States  in  1850,  completing  his 
studies  in  the  subscription  schools  of  Moultrie 
County,  111.  He  was  twenty-three  years  of  age 
when  his  father  died,  and  up  to  this  time  had  re- 
mained a  member  of  the  household,  which  was  now 
somewhat  broken  up  by  the  death  of  the  remaining 
parent.  About  this  time  he  purchased  320  acres 
of  wild  land  in  North  Okaw  Township,  this  county, 
and  a  few  years  later,  accompanied  by  his  two 
sisters,  Christiana  and  Margaret,  took  possession 
and  has  since  occupied  it. 

The  present  farm  of  our  subject  bears  little  re- 
semblance to  the  land  that  he  first  took  possession 
of.  It  is  now  laid  off  conveniently,  and  supplied 
with  good  fences  and  buildings,  among  the  most 
prominent  of  which  is  a  handsome,  substantial 
frame  building,  put  up  in  the  summer  of  18G8,  and 
a  large  barn,  erected  in  1882.  The  brothers  and 
sisters  have  lived  continuously  together,  our  sub- 
ject being  still  unmarried,  this  being  the  only  in- 
stance in  which  he  has  failed  to  perform  his  whole 
duty  as  an  enterprising  and  naturalized  American 
citizen. 

The  Johnson  brothers  are  widely  and  favorably 
known  throughout  North  Okaw  Township.  Fred- 
erick and  John  operate  largely  together  in  lands 
and  stock,  being  the  owners  of  over  1,0*00  acres, 
the  largest  part  of  which  lies  in  Coles  County. 
They  also  still  retain  an  interest  in  the  homestead 
in  Moultrie  County,  which  their  father  built  up 
from  the  uncultivated  prairie,  that  also  comprises  a 
valuable  tract  of  land,  which  with  its  appurten- 
ances, constitutes  one  of  the  most  desirable  home- 
steads in  that  section.  The  dwelling  stands  back  a 
short  distance  from  the  road  and  is  surrounded  with 
a  natural  grove  of  oak  and  hickory  trees.  There  are 
also  handsome  evergreens  artistically  trimmed  and 
which,  in  winter  especially,  serve  to  greatly  em- 
bellish the  place. 

Our  subject  and  his  brother  John  are  at  present 
giving  their  attention  to  the  breeding  of  fine 
horses,  the  former  having  two  valuable  imported 
stallions,  and  from  which  are  being  produced  some 
of  the  finest  animals  in  this  section.  Frederick  is 


taking  life  easy  and  aside  from  the  general  man- 
agement of  his  property,  engages  little  in  active 
business.  He  is  genial  and  hospitable  in  his  home, 
which  forms  a  pleasant 'resort  for  the  many  friends 
of  himself  and  his  estimable  sisters,  Christiana  and 
Margaret.  Mr.  J.  is  plain  and  unostentatious  in  his 
manner,  but  impresses  all  with  whom  he  comes  in 
contact  as  a  man  whose  word  is  to  be  relied  upon 
and  whose  friendship  and  honor  are  of  the  highest 
order.  The  warm  and  generous  characteristics  of 
his  forefathers  are  broadly  apparent,  and  have  lent 
to  him  that  simple  and  attractive  mien,  which  at  . 
once  secures  the  confidence  of  both  friends  and 
strangers.  Mr.  Johnson  has  never  been  connected 
with  any  religious  organization,  but  presents  the 
example  of  the  Christian  impulse  which  constrains 
a  man  to  do  unto  others  as  he  would  have  others 
do  unto  him.  This  principle,  closely  followed,  has 
gained  him  an  enviable  reputation  among  his 
fellow-townsmen  and  the  friendship  of  the  best 
people  in  this  locality.  Politically,  he  is  Demo- 
cratic, and  has  served  two  terms  as  Township  Com- 
missioner. 


ENJAMIN  D.  TURNEY,  the  owner  of  a 
fine  estate  containing  36G  acres  of  land,  is 
I  the  descendant  of  a  pioneer  family  of  Coles 
County.  He  was  born  June  2,  1819,  in 
Harrison  County,  Ky.,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Jones)  Turney  (see  sketch  of  John  Turney). 
His  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1834*  and  settled  in 
Coles  County.  During  the  first  two  weeks  of  their 
residence  here  they  lived  on  the  land  now  occupied 
by  Benjamin  Turney.  They  came  at  a  period  in 
the  history  of  the  Northwest  when  frontier  life 
was  a  hazardous  enterprise,  making  heavy  demands 
upon  the  courage  and  hardihood  of  those  who  were 
daring  enough  to  encounter  its  trials.  Mr.  Tur- 
ney's  family  occupied  a  log  cabin  comprising  but 
o^ie  room,  and  all  around  their  dwelling  stretched 
the  broad  prairie,  scattered  here  and  there  with  iso- 
lated cabins  like  their  own.  Mr.  Turney,  Sr.,  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land  at  that  time  in  Lafay- 
ette Township,  for  which  he  paid  13.50  per  acre. 
The  same  property  in  now  worth  $50  per  acre. 
Benjamin  Turuey  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 


I 


I 
•  .    310 


COLES   COUNTY. 


4 


1 


and  learned  in  early  life  to  endure  hardship  and 
privation,  which  is  an  important  lesson  in  life,  lie 
assisted  his  father  in  clearing  the  land,  and  in  cul- 
tivating and  improving  the  farm,  and  the  imple- 
ments with  which  they  had  to  work  rendered  this 
a  difficult  task  in  the  early  days.  Mr.  Tnrney  set- 
tled on  the  place  where  he  now  resides  in  1853,  and 
the  following  year  his  marriage  took  place,  .July 
29.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Amanda  Compton,  was  born 
in  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  Sept.  4,  1838.  They  had 
a  family  of  eleven  children  born  to  them,  nine  of 
whom  are  now  living:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  George 
B.  Baker;  John,  Benjamin,  William  J.,  Franklin. 
Sally,  James,  Martha  and  Isabell.  Daniel  and  one 
unnamed  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Turney  had  been  previously  married  to  Miss 
Sally  Munson,  who  was  born  in  Nicholas  County, 
Ky.,  Oct.  4,  1824,  and  died  Dec.  1,  1846.  In  pol- 
itics, Mr.  Turney  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served 
as  Road  Commissioner  and  School  Director,  giving 
general  satisfaction  to  the  people  in  the  discharge 
of  his  public  duties.  Mr.  Turuey  has  fine  sulphur 
springs  on  his  farm  which  he  is  contemplating  open- 
ing as  a  health  resort.  Hundreds  of  barrels  of  this 
water  have  been  hauled  away  daily,  and  yet  the 
spring  continues  to  flow  with  equal  strength. 


»HOM  AS  E.  WYETH  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
largest  and  finest  estates  of  Seven  Hickory 
Townshi-p,  located  on  sections  22  and  23. 
He  is  the  descendant  of  an  old  New  England  fam- 
ily, and  was  born  in  Franklin  Count3T,  Mass.,  June 
21,  1833.  His  grandfather,  Gad  Wyeth,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts,  and  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  under  Gen.  Washington.  He  subse- 
quently removed  to  Licking  County,  Ohio,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  1849.  The  parents  of  our 
subject,  Nathan  and  Hannah  (Kellog)  Wyeth,  were 
also  natives  of  the  Bay  State,  where  the  former  was 
born  May  16,  1801,  and  the  latter  in  1800.  They 
were  married  Nov.  15,  1824.  and  left  Massachu- 
setts and  removed  to  Ohio  about  1.H37,  when  their 
son  Thomas  was  four  years  of  age,  and  remained 
there  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  engaged  in  fanning 
in  Licking  County.  In  the  autumn  of  1850  Mr. 


Wyeth  visited  Illinois  and  purchased  land  in  Coles 
County,  whither  he  removed  with  his  family  in  the 
following  spring.  Mr.  Wyeth's  death  occurred  in 
Tuscola,  Douglas  Co.,  111.,  Aug.  1 1,  1864,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three  years,  and  his  wife  died  Feb.  6, 
1866.  Their  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  six 
of  whom  are  now  living,  namely:  Leonard,  a  banker 
residing  in  Tuscola,  who  is  married  and  has  a  fam- 
ily of  two  children ;  Joseph,  a  resident  of  Douglas 
County,  is  married  and  has  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren ;  Albert  is  a  money  loaner,  and  resides  near 
his  brother  Thomas  in  Seven  Hickory  Township; 
he  is  married  and  has  a  family  of  two  children. 
Samuel  (see  sketch);  Thomas  E. ;  Ellen,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Oliver  Hacket;  she  died  in  1869, 
in  Douglas  County,  leaving  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren ;  and  Marj7,  the  widow  of  John  Coffer,  who 
has  a  family  of  six  children. 

Thomas  Wyeth  has  been  twice  married;  his  first 
wife  was  Miss  Nancy  Combs,  of  Clarke,  Iiid.,  and  a 
family  of  three  children  was  born  to  them;  Maggie, 
who  was  born  Dec.  9,  1861,  married  Stephen  A.  D. 
Harry,  a  Professor  in  Normal  College,  Covington, 
Ind.;  she  has  one  child,  Allie,  born  Feb.  1,  1863,  who 
was  married  to  Emery  Bradford  in  December, 
1886;  Charles,  born  Jan.  10,  1868,  resides  at  home. 
Mrs.  Wyeth,  the  mother  of  these  children,  was  re- 
moved from  her  home  and  family  by  death,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1872.  May  12,  1875,  Mr.  Wyeth  married 
Miss  Julia  Price,  who  'was  born  Aug.  21,  1849,  and 
educated  in  Meigs  County,  Ohio.  They  have  one 
child,  Percy,  born  May  29,  1878. 

Mr.  Wyeth's  estate  contains  906  acres  of  valua- 
ble, well-improved  land,  320  of  which  formerly  be- 
longed to  the  homestead,  and  was  a  gift  from  his 
father.  He  is  liberal  and  enterprising  in  all  his 
dealings,  and  his  farm  is  managed  with  perfect 
system  and  exactness,  the  results  of  which  are  ap- 
parent in  all  its  appointments.  His  farm  buildings 
are  substantial  and  commodious,  and  the  grounds 
around  his  tasteful  residence  are  ornamented  witli 
a  variety  of  shade  trees,  and  offer  a  pleasing  ap- 
pearance. There  is  a  walnut  grove  on  the  place 
containing  1,000  trees,  and  he  has  a  fine  orchard 
of  excellent  fruit-bearing  trees  planted  twenty 
years  ago.  There  is  a  well  of  natural  gas  on  the 
place,  which  is  eighty  feet  in  depth,  and  will  throw 


* 


t'.oM.a  Y 
OF    ThE 

III::VEHSIIY  of  ILLIMOIS 


COLES   COUNTY. 


313 


a  stream  of  water  to  the  height  of  twenty  feet.  He 
used  the  gas  of  this  well  a  year  for  the  purpose  of 
lighting  his  house,  and  also  for  fuel,  but  the  appa- 
ratus that  belongs  to  it  is  now  out  of  repair.  His 
farm  is  supplied  with  2,000  rods  of  tiling,  and  he 
owns  about  250  head  of  high-grade  cattle  and 
twenty-five  head  of  horses. 

Both  in  public  and  private  life,  Mr.  Wyeth  does 
honor  to  his  New  England  ancestry.  He  is  courte- 
ous and  dignified,  and  although  enjoying  social 
recreation,  always  attends  rigorously  to  business  en- 
gagements. With  his  wife  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  in  which  he  is  a  Deacon.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican. 


€ORNELIUS  PRALL,  a  successful  stock- 
grower  of  Seven  Hickory  Township,  honor- 
ably represents  one  of  the  self-made  men  of 
the  West.  He  was  born  Jan.  25,  1834,  in  Morgan 
County,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  Asa  and  Asaneth 
(Botkin)  Prall.  His  family  was  originally  from 
Germany,  although  Asa  Prall  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  in  1803.  Mrs.  Prall  was  born  in  Greene 
County,  Pa.,  in  1807.  Her  father,  Robert  Botkin, 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  her  mother  was  of 
English  birth;  their  families  had  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  at  an  early  day,  seeking  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  many  privileges  offered  by  this 
liberal  Goverment  to  men  of  all  nationalities. 

Asa  Prall's  famity  removed  to  Pennsylvania  when 
he  was  a  boy,  and  he  passed  his  early  life  in  that 
State.  Coming  to  Ohio  in  1831  he  engaged  in 
farming  there,  and  remained  a  few  years.  In  1844 
he  resolved  to  move  still  farther  westward,  and  ac- 
cordingly came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Clark 
County,  and  thence  in  1851  to  Van  Bnren  County, 
Iowa.  In  the  latter  place  he  made  his  permanent 
home,  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  there. 
His  death  occurred  in  about  1875.  The  following 
is  the  record  of  their  family:  Thomas,  born  in 
1831,  in  Pennsylvania,  is  married  and  resides  in 
Iowa;  Robert,  born  in  1832,  in  Ohio,  also  resides  in 
Iowa;  Cornelius  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Sarah 
was  born  in  1835,  in  Ohio;  she  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried and  twice  made  a  widow  ;  her  first  husband  was 


Anthony  Bradford,  and  her  second  husband  was 
Hafford  Bradford,  each  bearing  the  same  name  al- 
though not  related  to  each  other;  her  home  is  in 
Schuyler  County,  Mo.  Matilda,  now  Mrs.  Colum- 
bus Fowler,  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  resides  in  Har- 
per County,  Kan. ;  Euphronius,  deceased,  was'born 
in  Ohio,  and  died  in  Iowa,  in  1881,  leaving  a  wife 
and  two  children;  John,  who  died  in  childhood, 
was  born  in  Ohio;  Amanda,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Indiana,  and  became  the  wife  of  George  Brooks,  a 
resident  of  Iowa;  Charles  C.  was  born  in  Indiana, 
and  is  a  resident  of  Iowa. 

Cornelius  Prall  remained  in  Indiana  when  his 
father  removed  to  Iowa,  but  his  marriage  occurred 
soon  after  and  he  took  his  young  wife  there  on  their 
wedding  trip,  to  visit  his  family  and  see  the  coun- 
try. After  remaining  four  or  five  months  they  de- 
cided to  return  to  Indiana,  and  in  1853  located  in 
Monroe  Township,  now  in  Clark  County,  and  were 
engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land  three  years. 
Mr.  Prall  then  removed  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and 
soon  after  his  arrival  there  his  wife  was  stricken 
down  and  died,  leaving  a  little  child  five  months 
old,  who  soon  followed  its  mother  to  the  grave. 
In  February  of  the  following  year,  Mr.  Prall  married 
Miss  Amelia  D.  Thompson.  Mrs.  Prall's  father  was 
a  native  of  New  York  and  her  mother  of  North 
Carolina. 

In  the  winter  of  1859  Mr.  Prall  came  to  Coles 
County,  making  his  home  in  Seven  Hickory  Town- 
ship, only  about  two  and  one-half  miles  from  then- 
former  residence.  For  three  years  he  rented  land, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  was  enabled  to 
buy  forty  acres  of  his  present  estate.  Proud  in 
the  possession  of  a  home  he  could  call  his  own,  he 
cultivated  and  improved  his  land,  and  by  hard  work 
and  the  exercise  of  due  economy,  in  a  few  years 
added  forty  acres  more  to  his  farm.  He  was  pros- 
pered in  business  and  added  forty  acres  successively 
in  the  years  1867,  1872  and  1881,  and  in  1886 
made  a  purchase  of  eighty  acres;  he  now  owns  240 
acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  under  good  cultiva- 
tion. 

In    1883    Mr.  Prall  was  again  bereaved   of  his 
wife,  who   died  on  the   27th  of   April,  leaving  a 
family  of  eight 
record :     Louisa 


ht  children.     The   following  is   their 
lisa  M.,  born   Feb.   1,   1858,  married 

'»   JT* 


4 


314 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Thomas  Todd,  a  relative  of  Abraham  Lincoln's 
family,  and  lives  in  Scotland  County,  Mo. ;  William 
A.,  born  Aug.  1,  1859,  married  Miss  Mary  Pen-el, 
and  lives  in  Cornanche  County,  Kan.;  Florence, 
born  Aug.  8,  1861,  married  John  W.  Watkins,  and 
is  a  resident  of  Seven  Hickory  Township;  Alice, 
born  Nov.  25,  1863;  Mary,  Sept.  1,  1865;  Charles, 
June  20,  1869;  Josephine,  Jan.  14,  1871,  and  Wal- 
ter, July  11,  1874;  the  four  latter  reside  at  home. 

In  conducting  his  farm  Mr.  Prall  gives  special 
attention  to  stock-growing,  raising  the  best  breeds 
of  cattle,  horses,  sheep  and  hogs,  and  dealing  to 
some  extent  in  graded  stock.  Mr.  Prall  is  deserv- 
ing of  great  praise  for  his  persevering  efforts  in 
overcoming  obstacles.  When  he  came  to  Coles 
County  he  possessed  but  13  in  money  and  a  broken- 
down  team,  but  with  untiring  courage  and  energy, 
he  has  battled  successfully  with  the  world,  and  made 
a  comfortable  home  for  himself  and  family.  He 
belongs  to  the  Charleston  Lodge  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows' Association.  In  politics  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  in  1880  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  Drainage  Commissioner,  holding  the 
position  until  1885,  when  he  resigned. 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Prall,  which  is  presented  in 
connection  with  this  personal  narrative,  will  be 
looked  upon  with  pleasure  by  his  many  friends,  and 
forms  a  valuable  adjunct  to  the  Coles  County 
ALBUM. 


GEYER,  a  successful  farmer  and 
stock-grower,  residing  on  section  9,  Oak- 
land  Township,  and  whose  portrait  is  shown 
in  this  connection,  was  born  May  8,  1832,  in  Mus- 
kingum  County,  Ohio.  He  is  the  son  of  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  (Cooper)  Geyer,  the  former  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  Henry 
Geyer  came  to  Ohio  in  1815  with  his  parents,  and 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  a  com- 
mon-school education.  He  was  married  in  1825, 
and  remained  in  Ohio  throughout  his  life.  He  held 
several  local  offices  in  the  township  where  he  lived, 
but  was  not  actively  interested  in  public  affairs, 
giving  his  attention  more  exclusively  to  the  duties 


of  private  life.  His  death  occurred  Nov.  11,  1863. 
His  wife  was  born  in  1804,  and  survived  him  sev- 
eral years,  her  death  occurring  in  1870,  at  the 
homestead  in  Ohio.  They  were  for  many  years 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  Mr.  Geyer  was  a  Trustee.  The  following  is 
a  record  of  their  children :  Violinder  is  the  wife  of 
Harrison  Taylor;  Cassandra  was  married  to  E.  J. 
Crane;  Samuel  H.  married  Miss  Julia  A.  Thomp- 
son; George  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  James 
i  W.  first  married  Miss  Martha  Winn,  and  after  her 
death  married  Melissa  F.  Fell ;  Washington  M.  mar- 
ried Miss  Melinda  Jennings;  Catherine,  and  three 
boys  (triplets)  died  in  infancy. 

George  Geyer  was  married,  Jan.  5, 1854,  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Roberts,  Rev.  J.  M.  Bray,  Pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  officiating.  Mrs.  Geyer  is  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Alice  (Mock)  Roberts. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Virginia,  where  her 
father  was  born  Oct.  12,  1802.  Thomas  Roberts 
was  possessed  of  remarkable  energy  and  force  of 
character;  he  was  industrious  and  hard  working, 
and  by  the  exercise  of  these  qualifications  acquired 
success  in  life.  He  removed  from  Virginia  in  early 
life,  and  became  a  resident  of  Highland  Township, 
Muskingum  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  settled  in  1830, 
the  year  following  his  marriage  to  Miss  Alice 
Mock.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  1832,  and  was  a  Class-Leader  for  several 
years  at  Bethel  Church,  in  Highland  Township. 

In  the  autumn  of  1860  Mr.  Roberts  moved  with 
his  family  to  Illinois,  and  purchased  a  valuable 
farm  in  the  eastern  part  of  this  county,  where  he 
lived  until  the  spring  of  1879.  His  children  all 
having  married  and  left  home,  and  feeling  the  ad- 
vancing infirmities  of  age,  he  built  a  house  on  the 
farm  of  his  oldest  son,  William,  where,  with  his 
aged  wife,  he  couid  pass  the  closing  years  of  his 
life  free  from  business  cares,  but  on  August  6  of 
the  same  year  he  was  seized  with  paralysis,  and 
passed  away  after  a  short  illness.  Eight  children 
were  by  his  bedside  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His 
daughter,  Mrs.  James  Titus,  a  resident  of  Missouri, 
was  not  able  to  reach  there  in  time.  He  had  thirty- 
two  grandchildren,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  present 
at  the  funeral,  which  was  one  of  the  largest  ever 
witnessed  in  the  place.  He  possessed  the  respect 


•fr- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


315 


and  affection  of  a  large  circle  of  friends,  who  were 
sincere  in  the  expression  of  their  grief. 

His  widow,  Alice  (Mock)  Roberts,  was  born  in 
Loudoun  County,  Va.,  Nov.  8,  1808.  Her  mar- 
riage to  Thomas  Roberts  took  place  Feb.  7,  1828, 
and  in  1 830  she  moved  with  her  husband  to  Mus- 
kingum  County,  Ohio.  She  was  converted  in  1833, 
and  united  with  the  Methodist  Church,  living  a 
consistent  Christian  life  until  her  death.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband  she  resided  witli  her  son-in- 
law,  George  Geyer,  where  her  death  occurred  Mny 
10,  1887.  She  was  a  woman  of  deep  religious  con- 
victions, and  did  much  work  for  the  Master.  As 
the  result  of  her  wise  instructions  and  godly  exam- 
ple, most  of  her  children  are  useful  members  of  the 
church.  At  her  death  her  family,  relatives,  neigh- 
bors and  church,  all  felt  that  one  of  God's  best 
children  had  been  taken  from  among  them. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Roberts  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children  born  to  them,  nine  of  whom  are 
still  living;  the  record  is  as  follows:  Jacob  A.  was 
born  Nov.  3,  1828;  Mary  E.,  Jan.  19,  1833;  Ma- 
tilda A.,  June  26, 1834;  Stephen  B.,  Nov.  27, 1838; 
William  H.,  Oct.  17,  1840;  Caroline,  April  27, 
1842;  Castara,  March  6,  1844;  Isaac  N.,  Jan.  6, 
1846;  Sarah  J.,  March  11,  1848;  John  D.,  March 
5,  1850;  Sherman  W.,  Jan.  11,  1852;  James  M., 
Oct.  9,  1854. 

George  Geyer  came  to  Illinois  in  1 857.  When 
he  left  his  native  State  his  possessions  consisted  of 
$100  and  a  team,  of  which  one  of  the  horses  was 
not  yet  paid  for.  He  made  a  partial  payment  upon 
a  small  tract  of  land  in  this  township,  which  he  cul- 
tivated and  improved  five  years,  and  then  sold  for 
$500.  With  this  capital  he  purchased  111  acres, 
paying  $500  down  and  going  in  debt  for  the  rest. 
He  has  been  industrious  and  energetic  in  business, 
and  now  owns  290  acres  of  valuable  land,  with  a  fine 
residence  and  appropriate  farm  buildings.  In  stock- 
raising  he  has  given  special  attention  to  raising 
Short-horn  cattle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geyer  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  five  of  whom  are  now  living. 
The  following  is  their  record :  The  first-born  died 
in  infancy;  Oliver  B.,  born  March  6,  1856,  died 
Nov.  17,  1856;  Miranda  C.,  born  May  1,  1858; 
Emma  R.,  July  18,  1860;  an  infant  daughter,  born 


Sept.    16,    1862,   is   deceased;  Elizabeth  I.  A.  was- 
born   May    27,  1864;  Arietta  A.,  March    16,  1868; 
William  F.,  May  1,  1870;  an  infant  daughter  born 
July  22,  1873,  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Geyer  is  interested  in  the  public  affairs  of 
the  township,  holding  the  offices  of  School  Trustee 
and*  Justice  of  the  Peace;  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  in  the  latter  position,  his  decisions  have 
never  been  reversed  when  sent  to  the  higher  courts. 
He  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  capacity  and  good 
judgment.  In  1854  he  united  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  for  many 
years  a  Class-Leader  and  one  of  the  Trustees.  His 
wife  united  with  the  same  church  in  1848.  Like 
her  beloved  mother  she  is  sincere  and  earnest  in 
religious  convictions,  and  has  endeavored  to  instill 
the  precepts  of  the  Master  in  the  minds  of  her  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Geyer  is  a  prominent  Republican  in 
politics. 


ffi  ACOB  H.  WIBLE  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  es- 
tate containing  163  acres  of  valuable  land, 
located  on  section  23,  Lafayette  Township. 
He  was  born  April  17,  1845,  in  Sullivan 
County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  V.  and 
Hannah  Wiblc.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  in  1858  removed  with  his  family  from 
Sullivan  County,  Ind.,  to  Illinois,  where  he  settled 
in  Lafayette  Township,  Coles  County.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life  here.  His  family  consisted  of  nine  children, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  and  the  record  is  as 
follows:  Mary  F.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Odell;  Adam, 
deceased;  Cyrena  Ann,  deceased;  Samuel;  Jane, 
the  wife  of  Uriah  Sellars  ;  Joseph,  William  ;  Eliza, 
deceased,  and  Jacob  H. 

Jacob  H.  was  a  young  lad  in  his  thirteenth  year 
when  the  family  removed  to  Illinois,  and  since  that 
time  has  grown  up  with  the  township.  He  at- 
tended school  in  the  winter  and  assisted  his  father 
in  the  various  branches  of  farm  labor  during  the 
summer.  In  1869  he  was  married  on  the  home- 
stead, to  Miss  Plina  Fisher  Hurst,  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Hurst.  Mrs.  Wible  was  born 
in  Johnson  County,  Ind.,  Feb.  18,  1852.  Mr. 
Wible  resided  at  home  until  twenty-five  years  old, 


I 


'      316 


COLES   COUNTY. 


and  soon  after  his  marriage  settled  on  his  present 
farm,  which  contains  162  acres  of  land,  all  of  which 
is  under  cultivation. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wible  have  three  children — Mary 
E.,  Elizabeth  and  Bertha  May.  Although  not  act- 
ively interested  in  politics,  Mr.  Wible  is  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  party.  Himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 


,OBERT  J.  McCALLISTER,  a  successful 
farmer  residing  on  section  28,  Seven  Hick- 
ory Township,  is  the  descendant  of  a 
^pioneer  family  of  the  Northwest,  distin- 
guished for  enterprise  and  mental  ability.  He  was 
born  Feb.  12,  1836,  in  Madison  County,  Ind.,  and 
is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  (McGrady)  Mc- 
Callister.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and 
removing  to  Indiana  at  an  early  day  were  among  the 
pioneers  of  Madison  County  in  that  State.  Thomas 
McCallister  was  actively  interested  in  building 
up  the  interests  of  the  community  where  he  resided, 
and  represented  the  county  eleven  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  subsequently 
elected  Senator,  and  after  serving  two  or  three 
terms,  his  ability  in  public  affairs  was  recognized 
by  a  re-election  in  the  autumn  in  which  his  death 
occurred.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  Mc- 
Grady took  place  in  1818.  Mrs.  McCallister  is  the 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Neal)  McGrady,  the 
former  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  the  latter  of  Vir- 
ginia. Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCallister  removed  to  Mad- 
ison County,  Ind.,  in  1831.  After  her  husband's 
death,  Mrs.  McCallister  removed  with  her  family, 
in  1870.  to  Illinois,  and  they  settled  in  Coles 
County,  where  she  is  now  living,  although  in  feeble 
health,  with  her  daughter.  Their  family  consisted 
of  eleven  children,  only  four  of  whom  are  now 
living,  three  in  Illinois  and  one  in  Hancock 
County,  Ind. 

Robert  J.  McCallister  passed  his  youth  and  early 
manhood  at  home  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  War.  He  then  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  8th  Ind. 
Vol.  Inf.,  Aug.  20,  1861,  and  during  his  service 
proved  himself  a  brave  and  efficient  soldier,  taking 
part  in  eighteen  of  the  most  prominent  engage- 


ments of  the  war.  He  passed  through  the  terrible 
siege  of  Vicksbnrg  entirely  uninjured,  and  never 
shrank  from  either  the  post  of  danger  or  duty.  He 
was  discharged  Sept.  21,  1865,  and  soon  after  his 
return  from  the  war  was  married  to  Miss  Martha 
SoLiierville.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Mason 
County,  W.  Va.,  where  their  daughter,  Martha,  was 
born,  and  removed  to  Indiana  in  about  the  year 
1862. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCallister  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  as  follows:  Otis  C.,  born  Dec.  19,  1866; 
Ardella,  Feb.  11,  1868;  William  A.,  Aug.  16,1869; 
Robert  B  ,  Feb.  15,  1871  ;  Leota  O.,  July  21,  1872; 
Minnie,  Feb.  27,  1874;  Thomas,  deceased,  born 
June  22,  1876;  Martha  E.,  deceased,  born  Oct.  29, 
1877,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  The  home 
circle  was  broken  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  M.cCallister, 
May  22,  1880.  She  was  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
her,  and  deeply  mourned  by  her  own  family  and  a 
large  circle  of  friends.  Mr.  McCallister  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  and  in  politics  is  a 
Democrat. 


ffi  SAAC  N.  MOORE,  one  of  the  prominent  citi- 
zens  of  Ashmore  Township,  residing  on  section 
111  35,  was  born  Aug.  24,  1836,  in  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  six  miles  east  of  Hamilton.  He  is  the  son 
of  Levi  and  Abigail  (Flenner)  Moore,  both  natives 
of  Ohio,  where  his  father  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1859  at  the  age 
of  forty-one.  His  mother  survived  the  death  of 
her  husband  several  years.  They  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  record  of  their  children:  Ursula,  the 
wife  of  J.  B.  Flenner;  Isaac  N.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Hannah,  the  wife  of  George  W.  Dutro; 
Drusilla,  the  wife  of  William  Mock;  Daniel  F. 
married  Miss  Emily  Wright;  his  wife  died  and  he 
afterward  married  Emily  Hill.  Harriet,  the  wife 
of  John  Willhoit;  Solomon,  who  died  at  nine,  and 
Levi  at  the  age  of  six  years. 

Vanderbilt,  when  once  asked  the  secret  to  success 

in  acquiring   wealth,  replied^  '•  Keep  at   work  and 

say  nothing  about  it."     The  remark  is  very  appli- 

cable to  the  course  pursued  by  the  subject  of  this 

1   biography.     Isaac  Moore   began  to   build    up  his 


.,/- 


COLES    COUNTY. 


317 


fortune  when  a  lad,  by  mending  pocket  knives  for 
his  schoolmates  on  the  way  to  school,  and  in  re- 
turn for  his  workmanship  received  from  two  to 
five  cents  apiece.  He  carefully  saved  his  earnings 
until  he  hml  acquired  the  sum  of  sixty  cents. 
This  he  invested  in  pine  lumber,  from  which  he 
manufactured  quilting-frames  and  launched  into  a 
more  extensive  business,  receiving  fifty  cents  per 
pair  for  his  frames.  After  he  had  accumulated 
$12.50  in  this  way,  (he  came  to  Illinois  and  pur- 
chased a  pair  of  young  steers,  which  he  broke  and 
kept  until  they  were  three  years  old,  when  he  sold 
them  for  $85.  From  these  small  beginnings  he  has 
steadily  continued  to  advance  up  the  rounds  of  the 
ladder  to  prosperity. 

Isaac  Moore  was  married,  Aug.  24,  1856,  to 
Miss  Effie  Conley.  Mrs.  M.  was  born  in  Coles 
County,  March  9,  1832,  and  her  death  occurred 
Sept.  26,  1873.  She  was  a  devoted  wife  and 
mother  and  a  sincere  Christian,  having  been  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Our  subject  was  subsequently  twice  mar- 
ried. His  second  wife  was  Miss  Mary  White,  but 
their  married  life  was  of  short  duration,  her  death 
occurring  Sept.  1,  1878.  She  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  marriage 
to  Miss  Sarah  Bancroft  took  place  Dec.  10,  1878. 
She  was  born  May  23,  1845,  in  Clark  County,  this 
State,  and  is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Lydia 
(Gulp)  Smith.  Her  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Fail-field,  Ohio,  where  her  father  was  born  in  1812, 
and  her  mother  in  1814.  They  are  both  now  liv- 
ing in  Clark  County.  When  the  Civil  War  broke 
out  in  1861,  her  father  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  54th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.  He  served  three  years  and  six  months, 
and  throughout  his  career  proved  himself  a  brave 
and  efficient  soldier.  The  record  of  their  children 
is  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Louisa,  David, 
Sarah,  Jacob,  Rebecca  and  William. 

Mr.  Moore  has  a  family  of  seven  children,  five 
of  whom  were  born  to  the  first  marriage,  one  to 
the  second  and  one  to  the  last.  Their  names  are 
as  follows:  Levi,  Lincoln,  Ardilla  E.,  Charles  E., 
Albert,  Nellie  and  William  M.  Mr.  Moore  joined 
the  Masonic  fraternity  in  1873,  and  is  a  member  of 
Ashmore  Lodge  No.  390.  He  is  ardently  devoted 
to  the  principles  of  the  order,  in  which  he  is  held 


in  high  esteem.  He  has  held  several  official  posi- 
tions in  the  order  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  has  acted  as 
W.  M.  three  terms,  and  represented  the  lodge  three 
terms  at  the  Grand  Lodge  at  Chicago. 

Mr.  Moore  came  to  Illinois  in  1854  and  first 
located  in  Clark  County,  but  removed  to  this 
county  in  the  same  year.  His  educational  advan- 
tages were  somewhat  limited,  but  his  native  quali- 
ties of  mind  and  heart  make  ample  amends  for  the 
deficiency.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  containing  forty- 
two  acres  of  valuable,  well-improved  land,  with  a 
pleasant  residence  and  excellent  farm  buildings. 
He  has  held  several  official  positions  in  the  town- 
ship, and  is  a  member  and  Trustee  of  the  Method- 
ist ^Episcopal  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  warm 
adherent  of  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Moore 
possesses  the  esteem  of  the  entire  community, 
among  whom  he  has  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends. 
He  is  a  kind  father,  an  affectionate  husband,  and  is 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  all  duties,  both  public 
and  private,  devolving  upon  him. 


R.  CANDY,  division  clerk  of  the  I.  &  St. 

L.  R.  R.,  is  one  of  the  prominent  residents 
li\    of  Mattoon.     He  was  born  March  7,  1844, 

in  Lexington,  Ky.,  and  is  the  sou  of  John 
and  Celeste  F.  (Robert)  Candy.  His  father,  John 
Candy,  was  a  native  of  England,  and  came  to 
America  when  twenty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  pro- 
fessional musician  and  settled  in  Boston,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  teaching  music.  He  was  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics  and  a  member  of  the  New  Jerusa- 
lem Church.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  ;  her  death  occurred  Jan.  17,  1849. 
Her  husband  survived  her  many  years,  and  died  in 
1885.  There  were  four  children  in  their  family, 
whose  names  are  as  follows  :  Theodore  J.  ;  Laura 
V.,  now  Mrs.  S.  Miller;  A.  R.  and  Edward  B. 

A.  R.  Candy  passed  his  boyhood  in  Lexington, 
Ky.,  whither  his  family  had  removed  from  Boston. 
He  received  an  excellent  education,  both  at  the 
public  and  private  schools  of  that  place,  and  at- 
tended the  University  at  Urbana,  Ohio.  He  learned 
the  printer's  trade,  but  finding  no  suitable  business 
opening,  took  a  position  as  watchman  and  second 


I 


m^ 


4s 

.  ,  318 


COLES   COUNTY. 


mate  with  a  steamboat  line  plying  on  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  D.,  38th  Ind.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Perry  ville,  Stone 
River  and  Chiekamanga,  besides  numerous  skir- 
mishes. At  Chickamauga,  Sept.  19,  1863,  he  was 
taken  prisoner  and  conveyed  to  Richmond,  thence 
to  Andersonville,  thence  to  Savannah,  Milieu  and 
Blackshear.  From  the  latter  place  he  escaped  with 
two  other  prisoners.  Through  many  difficulties 
they  made  their  way  to  one  of  the  blockade  ships, 
named  Diaching,  off  the  head  of  Cumberland  Isl- 
and, and  were  taken  on  board  Dec.  14,  1864, 
grateful  to  find  themselves  once  more  under  tlie 
protection  of  the  "Stars  and  Stripes,"  after  being 
held  prisoners  for  nearly  fifteen  months.  Of  the 
seven  others  who  were  taken  prisoners  with  Mr. 
Candy,  one  was  exchanged  after  eleven  months, 
and  he  was  the  only  one  who  survived  to  reach 
home. 

Mr.  Candy  suffered  severely  from  scurvy,  the 
result  of  his  long  imprisonment,  and  his  limbs  were 
so  swollen  for  a  long  time  as  to  render  it  impossi- 
ble for  him  to  turn  over  while  lying  down  without 
assistance.  After  his  return  home  he  received  the 
appointment  of  Assistant  United  States  Revenue 
Assessor  of  the  First  District  of  Ohio.  He  retained 
that  position  one  year,  and  in  1867  went  to  Urbana, 
where  he  took  charge  of  a  printing-office  for  three 
years.  He  next  went  to  Kansas,  and  entered  a 
homestead  there,  but  after  remaining  three  years 
was  driven  out  by  the  grasshopper  scourge,  which 
at  that  time  overran  the  country.  He  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  in  a  short  time  obtained  employment  on 
the  Cleveland  Leader,  remaining  there  eighteen 
months.  He  then  obtained  a  position  as  store- 
keeper for  the  C.  C.  C.  &  I.  R.  R.  Co.  at 
Cleveland,  where  his  excellent  business  qualifica- 
tions were  recognized,  and  he  was  variously  pro- 
moted until  he  received  the  appointment  of  Assist- 
ant Chief  Clerk  in  the  general  mechanical  office. 
In  1882,  when  the  C.  C.  C.  &  I.  R.  R.  came  in  pos- 
session of  the  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.,  he  was  sent  to 
Mattoon,  111.,  to  take  charge  of  the  locomotive  and 
car  department,  and  to  change  the  old  system  of 
account  of  that  department  to  correspond  with  the 
system  in  use  on  the  C.  C.  C.  it  1.  R.  R.  He  has 


since  retained  this  position  and  become  identified 
as  a  citizen  with  the  interests  of  Mattoon,  where  he 
has  twice  been  elected  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  from  the  First  District. 

In  1869  Mr.  Candy  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
E.  Armstrong,  the  daughter  of  Snover  Armstrong. 
Mr.  Armstrong  is  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of 
Northern  Ohio,  where  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Candy, 
was  born.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Candy  have  one  child 
living,  Maie.  Mr.  Candy  is  a  member  of  the  G. 
A.  R.,  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias. In  politics  he  is  not  restricted  by  party  spirit, 
but  always  votes  for  the  man  whom  he  considers 
best  adapted  to  successfully  fill  the  position.  His 
residence  is  located  at  No.  86  Charleston  street. 


1' 


OHN  HURST,  a  retired  farmer  residing  in 
Lafayette  Township,  Coles  County,  is  a 
native  of  Harrison  County,  Ind.,  where  he 
was  born  Oct.  28,  1809.  His  family  was  of 
German  extraction,  and  his  parents,  Abraham  and 
Polly  (Dunn)  Hurst,  were  jiatives  of  Tennessee. 
They  subsequently  removed  to  Indiana,  and  died 
in  Spencer  County,  that  State.  They  reared  a 
family  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  John,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

John  Hurst  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on 
the  homestead,  assisting  his  father  in  the  various 
duties  of  the  farm,  and  attending  the  log  school- 
house  of  the  primitive  days.  His  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Woodruff  occurred  in  1833.  After  this 
event  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  carried  on  a  suc- 
cessful business  until  1864,  when  he  sold  out  his 
interests  in  Indiana,  and  moved  to  his  present  home 
in  Illinois.  On  his  arrival  here  he  purchased  320 
acres  of  land,  which  he  managed  successfully  for 
many  years,  but  the  evening  of  life  is  now  closing 
around  him.  and  desirous  of  release  from  business 
cares,  he  has  given  the  greater  portion  of  his  land 
to  his  children. 

Mr.  Hurst  has  been  twice  married ;  his  first  wife 
died  Sept.  10,  1874,  leaving  five  children:  Anna, 
John  and  Rhoda  Jane  are  deceased ;  Plina  is  the 
wife  of  Jacob  H.  Wible,  and  Jackson.  Mr.  Hurst 
\va.-  married  the  second  time  in  December,  1875,  to 


J 


L. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


319 


Mrs.  Sarah  Mock.     She  was  the  mother  of  a  large 
family  of  children  by  her  first  marriage. 

Mr.  Hurst  has  been  a  successful  man  through 
life.  He  possessed  excellent  business  qualifications, 
and  acquired  his  prosperity  through  the  exercise  of 
industry  and  energy.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage 
he  only  possessed  $115  in  capital.  His  life  is  an 
example  of  what  enterprise  and  integrity  of  char- 
acter, united  with  industrious  and  temperate  habits, 
can  accomplish.  Mr.  Hurst  has  been  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat. 


OHN  WILSON,  Postmaster  and  merchant  of 
Cook's  Mills,  is  one  of  the  prominent  Ger- 
man citizens  of  North  Okaw  Township.  He 
was  born  March  8,  1840,  in  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  and  is  the  son  of  Frederick  and  Fredrica 
(Schafer)  Zeppelin.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
Wurtemberg,  and  his  father  was  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  gas  at  the  town  of  Heilbronn, 
which  place  derives  its  name  from  the  spring  that 
supplies  the  town  with  water,  signifying  "  fountain 
of  health."  He  held  the  commission  of  First 
Lieutenant  in  the  army  but  resigned  some  time  be- 
fore his  death,  which  occurred  at  the  town  of  Stutt- 
gart. His  mother's  death  occurred  about  two  years 
ago  in  Germany.  Three  children  of  their  family 
emigrated  to  America. 

John  Wilson  was  adopted  in  infancy  by  a  distant 
relative,  in  whose  household  there  were  no  children, 
and  from  that  family  obtained  the  name  of  Wilson. 
His  relative  died  while  John  was  still  a  child  and  he 
then  returned  to  his  own  home  where  he  remained 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  been  preparing  himself  in  college  for  mercan- 
tile life  and  after  leaving  school  entered  a  book- 
store. At  the  death  of  their  father  the  children 
were  left  without  resources  to  care  for  themselves, 
and  after  remaining  in  the  book-store  a  short  time, 
John  resolved  to  come  to  the  United  States.  De- 
cember 12,  1856,  he  stood  with  his  elder  brother, 
Charles,  on  board  the  Helvetia,  a  passenger  bound 
for 'America.  The  brothers  standing  together  on 
deck  looked,  perhaps  regretfully,  backward  toward 


the  fast  receding  shores  of  their  native  land,  but 
1  hopefull3'  forward  over  the  vast  expanse  of  blue 
|  water,  stretching  far  away  to  the  Western  Conti- 
nent, which  has  been  the  goal  of  so  many  hearts 
j  since  the  days  when  Spanish  cavaliers  and  Italian 
navigators  dreamed  of  a  marvelous  land  beyond 
j  the  sea,  where  the  setting  sun  dipped  its  burning 
disk  in  the  cool  waters  of  the  Atlantic.  After  a 
stormy  voyage,  during  which  two  dangerous  gales 
were  encountered,  they  landed  safely  at  Castle  Gar- 
den on  Feb.  22,  1857,  strangers  iu  a  strange  land. 
John  Wilson  apprenticed  himself  to  a  cabinet- 
maker and  spent  three  yenrs  learning  the  trade,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time  worked  one  year  as 
a  journeyman.  The  long  smouldering  fires  preced- 
ing the  Civil  War  broke  out  at  that  time,  and  he 
entered  the  service  of  his  adopted  country,  enlisting 
March  12,  1861,  in  the  4th  United  States  Cavalry, 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Crittenden  and  Col. 
Sedgwick.  He  was  mustered  in  at  New  York  and 
sent  to  Carlisle  Barracks  and  placed  in  Company 
A.  The  regiment  was  then  dispatched  to  Ft.  Leaven- 
worth,  Kan.,  and  soon  after  to  Independence,  where 
it  drove  out  a  body  of  rebel  troops.  Thence  they 
were  ordered  to  Springfield,  Mo.,  and  there  joined 
the  Army  of  the  West  under  Franz  Seigel,  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Lyons.  Their  regiment  then  at- 
tacked the  rebels  at  Duck  Springs  and  defeated 
them,  following  them  up  to  Wilson's  Creek,  where 
Gen.  Lyons  was  killed  and  Gen.  Sturgess  succeeded 
him.  A  retreat  was  then  conducted  to  Springfield, 
Mo.  They  continued  to  retreat  three  days  until 
they  reached  Rolla,  and  the  rebels  abandoned  the 
pursuit. 

The  company  then  returned  to  Springfield,  and 
joining  Company  D  were  appointed  body-guard  to 
Gen.  Fremont.  They  conducted  him  to  Sedalia, 
Mo.,  and  making  that  place  their  winter  quarters 
passed  the  time  until  spring,  engaged  in  scouting 
and  harrassing  the  enemy.  They  then  made  a  dash 
down  to  Black  Water  and  captured  1,200  rebel  re- 
cruits with  all  their  provisions,  intercepting  them 
as  they  were  moving  on  to  reinforce  Gen.  Price. 
After  conveying  their  prisoners  to  Sedalia,  they 
joined  Fremont  in  his  trip  to  Springfield,  which, 
proving  abortive,  they  returned  to  the  north  of  the 
river.  There  they  were  placed  under  Pope  and 


m 

"4 


,  ,    320 


COLES   COUNTY. 


aided  in  the  capture  of  New  Madrid  and  Island 
No.  10,  where  they  took  6.000  prisoners.  They 
then  embarked  for  Vicksburg,  but  were  stopped  at 
Memphis  and  sent  to  the  aid  of  Gen.  Grant,  who 
was  engaged  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Shiloh. 
They  did  not  arrive  until  the  day  after  that  con- 
flict, but  took  part  in  the  battles  following  at  Farm- 
ington  and  Corinth,  accompaning  Buell  to  Hunts- 
ville,  Ala.  and  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  pursuit  of 
Gen.  Bragg,  who  moved  on  to  Perryville,  where  a 
desperate  struggle  took  place  and  the  Union  forces 
were  victorious.  Not  being  able  to  follow  him 
over  the  mountains  on  his  retreat  to  Murfreesboro, 
they  moved  to  Nashville  and  passed  around  to  his 
right,  making  their  attack  at  Stone  River,  where  a 
hard  fought  battle  of  three  days  took  place. 
Rosecrans  had  then  taken  command  of  the  Union 
forces,  and  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  member  of  his  body- 
guard. 

The  force  to  which  Mr.  Wilson  was  attached  next 
moved  to  Middleton,  surprising  the  rebels  under 
Gen.  Bragg,  and  thence  to  Chickamauga,  whence 
they  were  forced  to  retreat,  to  Chattanooga.  They 
then  followed  Wheeler  through  Tennessee  for  seven 
days,  keeping  up  a  running  fight  nearly  all  the  time. 
Mr.  Wilson  was  then  sent  to  Memphis  as  orderly 
for  Gen.  Smith,  and  joined  his  raid  through  Mis- 
sissippi. On  the  third  day  out  he  was  taken  pris- 
oner at  Black  Water  by  Gen.  Forest,  and  sent  to 
Cahaba,  Ala.  After  remaining  in  prison  there  two 
months  he  was  transferred  to  Andersonville,  where 
he  remained  until  September,  and  was  then  con- 
veyed to  Florence,  S.  C.  On  the  22d  of  February, 
1865,  he  was  liberated  on  parole  and  taken  to  the 
hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md.  After  remaining  there 
a  month  he  obtained  a  furlough  of  thirty  days,  and 
in  the  meantime  went  to  Indiana,  and  thence  to 
Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  where  he  reported  again  for 
duty,  and  was  sent  to  join  his  regiment  at  Gravelly 
Spring,  Miss.  His  time  had  expired  nearly  a  year 
prior  to  this,  and  he  was  discharged  March  7,  1865, 
having  served  within  five  days  of  four  years.  After 
being  paid  off  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  he  went  to  Indi- 
ana, near  Bedford,  where,  April  2,  1865,  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Prince  took  place.  Mrs. 
Wilson  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Ann  Prince. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  North  Carolina,  but 


had  removed  at  un  early  day  to  Indiana,  where  their 
daughter  Sarah  was  born. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wilson  came 
to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Cumberland 
County.  He  remained  there  seven  years  and  then 
came  to  Coles  County,  where  he  purchased  land  in 
North  Okaw  Township,  and  carried  on  a  successful 
farming  business  twelve  years.  In  the  autumn  of 
1881  he  entered  upon  mercantile  life  at  Cook's 
Mills,  purchasing  a  residence  and  store  in  that  vil- 
lage. He  is  now  associated  vvith  Mr.  Hoots  in 
business,  under  the  firm-  name  of  Wilson  &  Hoots. 
He  was  elected  to  the  offices  of  Constable  and  Town 
Clerk  by  the  Democratic  party,  of  which  he  is  a 
member,  and  Aug.  21,  1885,  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  Postmaster  at  Cook's  Mills. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  had  two  children,  both 
of  whom  died,  leaving  the  household  desolate; 
their  names  were  Mary  and  Louisa.  Mrs.  Wilson 
is  a  highly  esteemed  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
in  which  she  is  actively  engaged  in  all  good  works. 
Mr.  Wilson  has  never  fully  recoved  from  the  ef- 
fects of  his  imprisonment  at  Andersonville.  He 
was  afflicted  with  scurvy  and  other  troubles  result- 
ing from  the  horrors  of  that  place,  and  has  never 
received  either  bounty  or  pension  from  the  Govern- 
ment for  his  services  or  sufferings. 


ANIEL  BOONE  WINKLEBLACK,  one  of 

the  rising  young  men  of  Coles  County,  is 
a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  residing  on  sec- 
tion 25,  Seven  Hickory  Township.  He 
was  born  in  this  county,  in  Morgan  Township, 
April  11,  1858,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Cather- 
ine (Weaver)  Winkleblack.  The  father  was  born 
in  Ohio,  where  his  early  life  was  spent.  He  subse- 
quently removed  to  Illinois,  and  became  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  this  county  in  the  early  days.  He 
was  successful  in  business  enterprises,  and  after  a 
long  life  of  usefulness  died  in  1886,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  twelve  children, 
whose  record  is  as  follows:  William  H.,Jjorn  Aug. 
16,  1841,  is  married  and  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead; Milton,  born  July  27,  1842,  is  married  and 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

OF  ILLINO/S 


RESIDENCE  OF  M.E.O  HAIR  SEC.  36  .SEVEN  HICKORYTOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MR.&.MRS.WM  A.GILMER.SEC.S.NORTH  OKAW TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  I.  N.ROBERTS,  SEC.  16.  (WJ.NSLR.H.w.)  ASHMORETOWNSHI  p. 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


323 


lives  in  California:  Robert  A.,  born  Jan.  1,  1844, 
is  married,  and  resides  in  Morgan  Township,  Coles 
County;  Mason  F.,  born  Sept,  12,  1845,  is  married, 
and  also  makes  his  home  in  Morgan  Township; 
Nancy  J.,  born  Oct.  3,  1847,  is  the  wife  of  William 
Griggs,  and  resides  in  Seven  Hickory  Township; 
Thomas  T.,  born  March  20,  1849,  lives  on  the 
homestead;  Mary  E.,  born  July  30,  1851,  became 
the  wife  of  S.  Clark,  and  died  July  4,  1887,  leaving 
a  family  of  two  children;  John,  born  Aug.  20, 
1853,  is  married,  and  resides  in  Morgan  Township; 
Victoria  Sophia,  born  March  [20,  1855,  is  the  wife 
of  Isaac  Walter,  and  lives  in  Ashmore  Township; 
she  is  the  mother  of  one  child ;  Daniel  Boone  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Susanna,  born  July  24,  1861, 
died  in  childhood;  Jacob  Henry  was  born  Jan.  13, 
1864,  and  lives  on  the  homestead  where  he  was 
born ;  he  is  married  and  hag  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren. John  Winkleblack  was  an  extensive  farmer 
in  this  county,  owning  from  800  to  1,000  acres  of 
land.  He  gave  his  attention  chiefly  to  raising  the 
different  varieties  of  cereals,  and  was  very  success- 
ful in  business. 

Daniel  Winkleblack  passed  his  boyhood  and 
youth  on  the  homestead,  where  he  acquired  a  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  sytematic  farming,  receiving  at 
the  same  time  a  good  education  in  the  common 
schools.  Feb.  9,  1881,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Myers.  Mrs.  Winkleblack  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Emeline  (Smith)  Myers,  the  for- 
mer born  Feb.  12,  1834,  and  the  latter  Nov.  27, 
1839.  Their  family  consisted  of  ten  children: 
Mary  Ann,  born  June  19,  1859;  Charles,  March  18, 
1861;  John,  born  Aug.  20,  1863,  died  Aug.  12, 
1864;  Elisha,  born  Nov.  28.  1866,  died  Oct.  12, 
1880;  Nettie,  born  June  20,  1871;  Nannie  and 
Julia  (twins),  were  born  Aug.  20,  1876;  the  latter 
died  at  two  years  of  age,  and  the  former  makes  her 
home  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Winkleblack.  Katie, 
born  Dec.  12,  1878,  resides  at  home;  Carrie  and 
Harry  (twins),  were  born  March  12,  1881;  the 
former  died  at  fi ve  years  of  age.  The  family  came 
to  Coles  County  in  1860,  and  reside  in  Bushton, 
Morgan  Township,  Coles  County. 

On  Thanksgiving  Day  of  1883,  Mr.  Winkleblack 
brought  his  young  wife  to  the  home  where  they 
now  reside,  and  celebrated  the  festivities  of  the 


day  with  due  ceremony.  In  conducting  his  farm, 
Mr.  Winkleblack  is  engaged  to  some  extent,  but 
not  exclusively,  in  stock-raising.  His  farm  was  a 
gift  from  his  father.  In  politics  Mr.  Winkleblack 
is  a  Republican;  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Baptist 
Church,  having  become  a  member  of  Salem  Church, 
Morgan  Township,  when  fifteen  years  of  age. 


AMES  HAMILTON,  ex-Sheriff  of  Coles 
County,  and  now  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  on  section  13,  North  Okaw 
Township,  spent  his  childhood  in  Adams 
County,  Ohio,  where  his  birth  took  place  May  1, 
1826.  He  was  the  eleventh  child  in  a  family  of 
twelve  born  to  John  and  Isabel  (Smith)  Hamilton, 
natives  of  Ireland,  but  of  Scotch  descent.  They 
came  to  America  with  their  parents  when  mere 
children,  and  settled  in  South  Carolina,  whence 
both  families  removed,  first  to  Kentucky  and  then 
to  Ohio.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  John  Hamilton,  Sr.,  who  married  Miss  Mary 
McClure;  both  were  natives  of  Ireland  and  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Isabel  (Brown) 
Smith,  of  the  same  country  and  descent  as  the 
Hamilton  family. 

The  father  of  our  subject  carried  on  farming  in 
Adams  County,  Ohio,  and  served  as  a  volunteer  in 
the  War  of  1812.  In  1853  he  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois with  the  expectation  of  remaining  in  the  West, 
but  two  years  later  returned  to  Ohio,  where  his 
death  took  place  in  about  1868.  James,  of  our 
sketch,  was  bred  to  farm  pursuits  and  received  a 
limited  education  in  the  district  schools.  When 
twenty-three  years  of  age  he  left  home,  and  for  two 
years  thereafter  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own 
account  in  his  native  county.  Subsequently  he 
cauie  West  and  engaged  in  teaching  in  Coles 
County,  which  he  followed  for  about  a  year  and  a 
half,  and  then  located  on  a  tract  of  rented  land, 
which  he  occupied  one  j'ear.  In  the  meantime  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  wild  prairie,  which  ho 
fenced  and  settled  upon,  and  in  due  time  had  made 
it  ready  for  the  reception  of  his  bride.  The  lady 
chosen  for  this  position  of  honor  and  trust  was 


T 


\ 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Miss  Margaret  L.  Hoskins,  who  became  his  wife 
Nov.  16,  1853.  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  born  in  Mor- 
gan County,  111.,  July  19,  1832,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Lowry  and  Martha  (Prewett)  Hoskins,  na- 
tives of  Kentucky,  who  emigrated  from  the  Blue 
Grass  regions  to  Illinois  during  its  early  settlement. 
They  located  in  Coles  County  in  1835,  while  it  was 
still  a  wilderness,  with  no  settlement  within  a 
radius  of  sixteen  miles  and  no  mill  nearer  than 
Springfield. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoskins  became  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  of  whom  Margaret  L.  was  the  sec- 
ond. The  mother  departed  this  life  at  the  home- 
stead in  North  Okaw  in  1847.  Lowry  Hoskins  is 
still  living,  and  a  resident  of  Nebraska.  Although 
having  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  he  is  still  active  and  capable  of  managing  his 
business  affairs.  The  experience  of  the  Hoskins 
family  in  Illinois  during  the  pioneer  days  was 
marked  by  many  hardships  and  trials.  At  one 
time  a  band  of  robbers  took  away  four  head  of 
horses,  escaping  with  them  to  Kentucky.  Mr.  H. 
overtook  the  thieves,  but  could  not  .satisfactorily 
prove  that  the  animals  belonged  to  him,  and  was 
obliged  to  relinquish  his  claim.  This  for  the  time 
crippled  his  farming  operations,  as  he  had  no  other 
horses  left,  and  he  went  to  work  at  twenty-five 
cents  per  day,  cutting  rails,  until  enabled  to  start 
again.  Afterward  he  followed  trading  principally, 
and  accumulated  a  fine  property  in  Coles  County, 
owning  at  one  time  nearly  800  acres  of  land.  He 
was  particularly  fond  of  pioneer  life,  and  delighted 
in  overcoming  the  difficulties  set  before  him. 

Mr.  Hamilton  occupied  his  first  purchase  of  land 
about  four  years,  and  then  in  the  fall  of  1859  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  on  section  13,  where  he  now 
resides.  He  put  up  a  fine  residence  in  1872, 
together  with  good  barns  and  other  necessary  out- 
buildings, and  added  to  his  first  purchase  so  that 
he  has  now  260  acres,  the  whole,  with  its  buildings, 
constituting  one  of  the  most  attractive  features  in 
the  landscape  of  Coles  County.  He  has  been  pros- 
perous in  his  farming  operations  and  fortunate  in 
his  investments,  and  is  looked  upon  as  a  man  pos- 
sessing more  than  ordinary  ability  and  good  judg- 
ment, both  in  farming  and  finance. 

Mr.    Hamilton,    after    the  outbreak  of   the  Re- 


bellion, although  having  large  interests  to  look 
after,  considered  it  his  duty  to  aid  in  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Union,  and  accordingly,  on  the  4th  of 
September,  1862,  enlisted  in  the  12Sth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, which  was  soon  afterward  consolidated  with 
the  26th  and  130th.  The  soldiers  were  mustered 
in  at  Camp  Butler,  and  soon  afterward  ordered  to 
the  scene  of  conflict,  with  headquarters  at  Mem- 
phis. Tenn.  The}'  participated  in  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Vicksburg,  and  Mr.  Hamilton  in  the 
meantime  was  attacked  with  typhoid  fever,  from 
the  effects  of  which  he  was  slow  to  recover,  and 
finally  received  his  discharge  for  disability  on  the  7th 
of  May,  1863.  He  then  returned  to  his  home  and 
farm  pursuits,  but  for  a  period  of  twelve  years 
thereafter  was  able  to  do  but  very  little  active  la- 
bor. He  finally  began  to  improve,  however,  and  is 
now  quite  strong  again. 

Mr.  Hamilton  always  voted  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  in  1880  was  the  successful  candidate  for 
Sheriff  of  Coles  County,  being  elected  by  a  hand- 
some majority.  He  served  two  years,  and  in  1882 
was  re-elected  for  four  years,  discharging  the 
duties  of  the  office  with  credit  to  himself  and  satis- 
faction to  his  constituents.  He  encountered  some 
unpleasant  duties  during  his  term  of  office,  but 
never  swerved  from  the  line  of  rectitude,  and  re- 
ceived much  praise  for  his  fideHty  to  duty  and  his 
bravery  in  times  of  difficulty  and  danger.  During 
the  last  three  years  of  his  term  he  had  his  family 
with  him  at  his  headquarters  at  Charleston,  and 
upon  relinquishing  the  office  retired  to  his  farm, 
leaving  his  son,  John  R.,  as  Deputy  under  McClel- 
land, the  present  incumbent. 

Mr.  Hamilton  has  also  served  the  people  in 
minor  offices  and  has  thoroughly  identified  himself 
with  the  growth  aud  progress  of  his  adopted 
county.  Of.  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  II., 
eleven  in  number,  four,  Mary  E.,  Thomas,  Arthur 
and  Lulu,  have  been  laid  to  rest  in  the  quiet  coun- 
try burying-ground.  Those  surviving  are  John  R., 
William  H.  and  James  L.  (twins),  David  \V.,  Al- 
bert Grant,  Samuel  L.  and  Margaret  I.  John  has 
been  mentioned  above;  Albert  married  Miss  Mollie 
E.  Ashworth,  and  is  a  practicing  physician ;  he  re- 
sides on  the  homestead;  he  was  graduated  at  the 
Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati.  David  read 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


325 


law  at  Charleston  in  the  office  of  States  Attorney 
Leitch,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  others 
are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  in  which 
he  serves  as  Deacon  and  Trustee.  Socially  he  be- 
longs to  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
The  farm  stock  of  Mr.  Hamilton  includes  Short- 
horn cattle,  Clydesdale  horses  and  Poland-China 
hogs.  The  land  is  largely  devoted  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  broom  corn  and  grain,  and  yields  each  year 
a  bountiful  supply  of  the  richest  products  of  the 
Prairie  State. 


<¥/  OHN  W.  MURPHY,  a  prosperous  farmer  and 
stock-grower  of  this  county,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 33,  Seven  Hickory  Township,  was  born 
April  13,  1841,  in  Kentucky,  and  is  the  son 
of  Miles  and  Sibbie  (O'Hair)  Murphy.  His  great- 
grandparents  were  natives  of  Ireland,  who  emi- 
grated to  this  country  at  an  early  day,  and  settled 
in  Kentucky,  making  their  permanent  home  there. 
Miles  Murphy  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1818, 
and  was  the  son  of  William  and  Matilda  (Biles) 
Murphy,  who  were  the  parents  of  twenty-two  chil- 
dren, sixteen  sons  and  six  daughters.  Those  now 
living  reside  in  Kentucky,  where  there  are  about 
500  descendants.  One  son,  who  removed  to  Indi- 
ana with  his  family,  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a 
tree  while  at  work  cutting  timber  in  the  forest. 

In  1856,  Miles  Murphy  removed  with  his  wife 
and  family  of  thirteen  children,  to  Coles  County, 
and  settled  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  making 
his  permanent  home  here.  Several  years  prior  to 
this  removal  he  had  come  to  Edgar  County,  and 
after  remaining  three  years,  returned  to  Kentucky. 
Mr.  Murphy  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  a  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  the  township.  He 
was  industrious  and  energetic  in  business,  and  lived 
peaceably  with  all  men,  attending  exclusively  to 
his  own  affairs,  and  never  becoming  involved  in 
difficulties  with  his  neighbors.  During  the  Civil 
War  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  conveyed  to 
Springfield,  where  he  died.  The  family  record 
is:  William  H.,  a  resident  of  Texas;  John  W., 


the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Calvin  C.,  a  resident  of 
Kansas;  Michael  A.,  a  resident  of  Seven  Hickory 
Township;  Benjamin  F.  died  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen; James  T.,  Miles  T.,  Leander  B.  and  Hilton 
N.,  all  reside  in  Kansas ;  Eliza  C.,  who  died  in  1880, 
was  the  wife  of  Martin  McCallister,  and  left  a 
family  of  three  children;  Matilda  E.  is  the  widow 
of  John  Erwood,  and  has  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren; Nancy  I.  is  the  wife  of  William  Grimes,  and 
has  a  family  of  three  children;  Diana  E.  is  single, 
aud  resides  with  her  widowed  sister,  Matilda,  in 
Elizabethtown,  Ind. 

John  W.  Murphy  was  a  child  when  his  parents 
came  to  Edgar  County,  111.  He  returned  with  the 
family  to  Kentucky,  and  accompanied  them  again 
to  Illinois  when  they  came  the  second  time,  and 
settling  permanently  in  this  county,  has  since  re- 
mained here,  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising. 
His  first  purchase  of  land  was  200  acres,  located  on 
section  36,  Seven  Hickory  Township,  which  was 
part  of  the  original  homestead,  bought  of  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad ;  he  owns  it  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  Michael  A.  Murphy.  He  now  re- 
sides on  section  33,  where  he  owns  a  fine  estate, 
containing  eighty  acres  of  well-improved  land.  He 
is  engaged  in  general  farming,  raising  all  the 
cereals,  and  also  giving  his  attention  to  stock- 
growing'. 

Dec.  28,  1864,  Mr.  Murphy  was  married  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Wells.  Mrs.  Murphy  was  the  daughter  of 
William  and  Sail}'  Wells,  residents  of  Kentuck.y. 
Their  married  life,  which  opened  with  every  pros- 
pect of  future  happiness,  was  doomed  to  a  sudden 
close;  on  February  11  of  the  following  year,  Mrs. 
Murphy  died  at  her  husband's  home  in  Seven  Hick- 
ory Township.  April  5,  1867,  Mr.  Murphy  was 
married  to  Miss  Rachel  Pittinger.  Mrs.  Murphy 
is  the  daughter  of  Smith  and  Eliza  Pittinger.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  who  removed  to 
Illinois,  where  their  daughter,  Rachel,  was  born  in 
Clark  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murphy  had  a  family 
of  eight  children.  Their  first-born  died  in  infancy, 
unnamed;  Lola  G.,  born  April  5,  1870;  Nelson  M., 
June  7,  1872;  Maud  E.,  Feb.  22,  1875;  John  T., 
Oct.  2,  1878;  Anna  E.,  June  24,  1880;  Corsa  A., 
born  Feb.  22,  1882,  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
months,  and  Jessie  P.,  born  July  14,  1885. 


\ 


326 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Mr.  Murphy,  with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  Chris- 
tian Church  at  Rural  Retreat.  He  is  an  active  and 
enterprising  citizen  of  this  county,  and  in  1885 
was  elected  Commissioner  of  Seven  Hickory  Town- 
ship by  the  Democratic  party,  of  which  he  is  a 
member;  he  has  been  delegate  to  the  County  Con- 
ventions, and  served  as  School  Director  several 
terms,  giving  general  satisfaction  to  the  people  in 
the  discharge  of  his  public  duties. 


JCHAKL  A.  MURPHY,  a  prosperous  far- 
mer of  Seven  Hickory  Township,  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine  estate  containing  200  acres, 
located  on  section  36.  He  was  born  Aug. 
10,  1844,  in  Morgan,  now  Wolfe  County,  Ky.,  and 
is  the  son  of  Miles  and  Sibbie  (O'Hair)  Murphy. 
His  great-great-grandfather  was  a  native  of  County 
Down,  Ireland,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  at 
an  early  day  and  settled  in  Kentucky.  His  wife 
was  a  native  of  Bourbon  County,  that  State.  His 
grandfather,  William  Murphy,  was  born  in  1792,  in 
Morgan  County,  Ky.,  and  married  Miss  Matilda 
Miles,  who  was  born  in  1801,  in  the  same  county. 
Miles  Murphy  was  born  in  1818,  in  Morgan 
County,  Ky.,  and  remained  on  the  homestead  with 
his  parents  until  his  marriage  with  Miss  Sibbie 
O'Hair,  which  took  place  at  Hazle  Green,  Ky.  The 
ceremony  was  performed  by  Elder  Joseph  Nichols, 
pastor  of  the  Christian  Church  at  that  place.  After 
his  marriage  he  was  engaged  in  farming  a  few  years 
in  his  native  State,  and  in  1847  removed  to  Edgar 
County,  111.  After  remaining  there  one  year  he  re- 
turned to  Kentucky,  but  in  1856  came  again  to  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  on  section  36,  Seven  Hickory  Town- 
ship, where  he  carried  on  a  successful  farming  busi- 
ness until  the  Civil  War  broke  out.  With  his  sons, 
Michael  A.  and  John  W.,  he  was  taken  prisoner 
during  the  war  and  conveyed  to  Springfield,  where 
he  died  April  14,  18(!4,  as  it  was  then  supposed, 
from  the  effects  of  poison  administered  while  in 
prison. 

The   following  is   the   record   of   the   family  of 


Miles  Murphy:  William  H.,  a  resident  of  Parker 
County,  Tex.,  is  married  and  has  a  family  of  four 
daughters;  John  W. ;  Calvin  C.,  a  resident  of 
Greenwood  County,  Kan.,  is  married  and  has  a 
famity  of  four  children;  Michael  A.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Eliza  C.,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
Martin  McCallister;  she  died  in  February,  1881, 
leaving  a  family  of  three  children.  Matilda  E. 
is  the  widow  of  John  Elrwood,  and  resides  in 
Bartholomew  County,  Ind.,  with  her  family  of 
three  children;  Nancy  J.,  the  wife  of  William 
Grimes,  has  a  family  of  three  children,  and  likewise 
resides  in  Bartholomew  County,  Ind. ;  Miles  T.,  a 
resident  of  Greenwood  County,  Kan.,  has  been 
twice  married,  and  is  the  father  of  one  child  by 
each  marriage;  Benjamin  F.  died  on  the  homestead 
in  the  autumn  of  1856,  at  the  age  of  fourteen; 
James  E.,  a  resident  of  Cherokee  County,  Kan.,  is 
married  and  has  one  child  ;  Diana  E.  resides  in  Bar- 
tholomew Count}',  Ind.,  with  her  sister;  Leander 
B.  resides  in  Cherokee  County,  Kan.,  with  his 
brother;  Hilton  N.  is  married,  and  likewise  resides 
in  Cherokee  County,  Kan. ;  he  has  one  child.  Miles 
Murphy  and  his  wife  were  highly  esteemed  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church;  the  latter  survived 
her  husband  many  years,  and  died  Feb.  2,  1882,  in 
Charleston,  111. 

Michael  A.  Murphy  was  twelve  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Coles 
County,  111.  He  attended  the  common  schools  in 
his  native  State,  and  after  coining  to  Illinois  studied 
one  year  at  Kansas  Station  in  Edgar  County.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  began  to  work  for  himself 
on  the  home  farm,  and  in  the  spring  of  1866  went 
to  Kentucky,  and  married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Powers. 
Mrs.  Murphy  was  born  Nov.  14.  1849,  in  Morgan 
County,  Ky.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Louis  and 
Emily  J.  (Cox)  Powers,  also  natives  of  Kentucky. 
Their  family  consisted  of  four  children — Sarah  J., 
James  P.,  Martha  E.  and  William  H.  James  P. 
served  as  Deputy  Marshal  in  Kentucky  eight  years; 
Martha  E.  is  the  wife  of  Wiley  Perkins,  and  resides 
in  Wolfe  County,  Ky.,  and  William  H.  resides  in 
Howard,  Dak. 

Mr.  Murphy's  marriage  took  place  March  3, 
1866,  and  the  ceremony  was  performed  by  Elder 
Joseph  Nichols,  Pastor  of  the  Christian  Church  at 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


327 


I 


Ilazle  Green,  Ky.  Mr.  Nichols  had  the  reputation 
of  having  conferred  the  blessing  of  matrimony 
upon  a  greater  number  of  people  than  other  minis- 
ter in  the  State.  He  performed  the  marriage  rite 
for  the  parents  of  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murphy,  and 
in  1860  married  over  300  couples.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  is  said  to  have  united  fifteen  couples  before 
leaving  the  church.  Mr.  Nichols  was  a  native  of 
Morgan  County,  Ky.  He  possessed  a  fine  physique, 
and  his  hair  had  never  turned  gray,  although  he 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Murphy  returned  to  Coles 
County,  111.,  and  engaged  in  farming  on  the  home- 
stead. In  1868  he  added  to  his  property  by  pur- 
chasing forty  acres  of  land  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad,  and  in  1868  built  his  present  residence. 
He  has  on  his  farm  six  acres  of  walnut  trees  and 
10,000  maples,  besides  a  large  growth  of  nearly 
ever}'  variety  of  native  trees.  His  farm  is  well 
cultivated  and  improved,  and  is  supplied  with  over 
2,000  rods  of  tiling.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murphy  have 
an  interesting  family  of  three  children :  Herschel 
S.,  born  Jan.  22,  1868,  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  Emily  J.,  born  Dec. 
12,  1869,  and  Harlan  A.,  Sept.  2,  1883.  Mr.  Mur- 
phy, with  his  wife  and  daughter,  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  was  elected  by  that  party  to  the  local 
office  of  Constable,  and  has  held  that  position  nine 
years. 

On  Sept.  2, 1881,  Mr.  Murphy  was  struck  by  light- 
ning while  hauling  a  load  of  broom  corn  from  the 
field  on  his  farm.  He  had  reached  the  yard  with 
his  team,  and  his  wife,  with  Miss  Lacy,  a  lady 
friend  from  Kentucky,  was  assisting  him  in  cover- 
ing up  the  load  to  protect  it  from  the  rain  which 
was  fast  approaching,  when  the  shock  occurred.  The 
current  struck  his  right  shoulder  and  passed  down 
the  right  leg  to  the  load  of  broom  corn,  tearing  his 
clothing  in  its  course,  and  searing  the  flesh  from 
his  shoulder  to  his  feet,  from  which  the  boots  were 
torn  and  literally  riddled.  Parts  of  his  pocket- 
knife  and  the  strap-iron  on  the  wagon  box  were 
melted.  His  wife  was  also  stricken  down,  and  re- 
mained in  a  state  of  paralysis  for  several  hours.  The 
lightning  set  fire  to  the  load,  and  but  for  the  timely 
aid  of  Miss  Lacy,  who  was  uninjured,  lie  would 


have  been  cremated  on  his  wagon.  Mr.  Murphy 
has  preserved  the  boots  and  clothing  as  mementos 
of  his  terrible  experience,  from  the  effects  of  which 
he  will  suffer  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  oversees  the  work  on  his  farm  as  usual,  but  is 
not  in  sufficiently  robust  health  to  perform  active 
labor  himself. 


ADISON  HUNT,  manufacturer  of  and 
dealer  in  tile  and  brick,  owns  160  acres  of 
land  on  sections  6  and  7,  in  North  Okaw 
Township,  where  for  the  last  year  he  has 
been  prosecuting  his  chosen  calling  extensively  and 
profitably.  He  is  considered  one  of  the  rising  young 
business  men  of  the  northwestern  part  of  Coles 
County,  and  much  is  expected  of  him  in  the  future. 
Mr.  Hunt  was  born  of  a  good  family,  first  open- 
ing his  eyes  to  the  light  in  Jasper  County,  this 
State,  Aug.  30,  1858.  His  grandfather,  Joseph 
Hunt,  a  native  of  Ohio,  was  born  Sept.  29,  1805, 
and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  carpentering  all 
his  life.  In  early  manhood  he  married  Miss  Nancy 
McCalip,  who  was  born  June  21,  1806,  in  Ohio, 
and  became  his  wife  July  27,  1824.  Seventeen 
years  later  they  emigrated  with  their  family  to  this 
State,  arriving  in  Jasper  County.  Nov.  19,  1841, 
where  they  took  up  their  residence,  and  where  the 
death  of  Joseph  Hunt  occurred  May  20,  1857. 
His  wife,  Nancy,  survived  him  until  Sept.  26,  1868. 
Their  nine  children  were  Zimiriah,  who  died  when 
fifty-five  years  old ;  Elisha,  a  resident  of  Douglas 
County ;  Alfred,  of  Coles  County ;  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  John  McComis,  of  Kansas;  Leann,  the  wife 
of  Jacob  Dettimore,  of  Kansas;  John,  deceased, 
also  Sarah;  Joseph,  a  resident  of  Washington  Terri- 
tory, and  James  T.,  of  Kansas.  The  grandparents 
were  buried  in  the  Hunt  Cemetery  in  Jasper 
County. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  Jan.  20, 1831, 
and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  reach- 
ing manhood.  His  school  advantages  were  ex- 
tremely limited.  He  was  but  eleven  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  came  to  Jasper  County,  and  soon 
after  reaching  his  majority  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Nancy  Harris,  of  Ohio.  His  father 
presented  him  with  a  wedding  gift  of  forty  acres 


f 


i  .    328 


COLES  COUNTY. 


of  land  in  Jasper  County,  which,  however,  he  sold 
not  long  afterward,  and  dealt  in  land  in  that  local- 
ity for  some  time  thereafter.  Upon  coming  to  this 
county  in  the  spring  of  1859,  he  rented  a  tract  of 
land  in  Lafayette  Township,  upon  which  he  oper- 
ated until  he  purchased  the  land  which  constitutes 
his  present  farm.  This  he  has  brought  to  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation,  the  lowland  being  thoroughly 
drained  with  tile,  and  has  brought  about  all  the  im- 
provements required  by  the  progressive,  modern 
farmer.  Of  the  six  children  born  to  Alfred  and 
Nancy  Hunt,  Joseph  and  the  two  following  died  in 
infancy;  Elisha  died  when  an  interesting  lad 
nine  years  of  age  ;.Ardilla  became  the  wife  of  Willis 
Hand,  and  is  a  resident  of  Coles  County;  Madison, 
of  our  sketch,  was  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

Our  subject  attended  the  primary  school  during 
his  childhood  and  completed  his  studies  in  Lee's 
Academy,  at  Loxa,  where  he  took  a  full  course  of 
instruction.  After  leaving  the  academy  he  com- 
menced teaching,  which  he  followed  a  short  time, 
then  rented  a  tract  of  land  in  Coles  County,  and 
carried  on  farming.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Emma  Ellison,  of  North  Okaw  Township, 
on  the  21st  of  January,  1880,  the  wedding  taking 
place  at  the  home  of  the  bride.  Mrs.  Hunt  was 
born  in  Ohio,  Feb.  28,  1848,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Moses  and  Mary  A.  (Lockridge)  Ellison,  natives 
of  the  same  State.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hunt 
rented  land  in  Hurnbolt  Township,  and  a  year  later 
removed  to  the  place  where  he  now  resides.  Dur- 
ing the  fall  of  1886,  he  became  associated  with  his 
brother-in-law,  S.  J.  Jackson,  in  the  manufacture  of 
tile  and  brick,  the  business  being  carried  on  under 
the  firm  name  of  Jackson  &  Hunt.  Both  are  wide- 
awake and  energetic  men,  and  are  building  up  a 
prosperous  and  lucrative  business,  receiving  orders 
from  all  parts  of  the  county  and  beyond. 

Mr.  Hunt  usually  votes  with  the  Democratic 
party,  although  having  but  little  time  to  give  to 
political  matters.  His  wife  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
household  circle  was  completed  by  the  advent  of 
five  children,  namely,  Ellison,  born  June  23,  1882; 
Louis  A.  and  Luella,  twins,  May  30,  1883;  Maggie, 
July  31,  1884;  Claude,  Aug.  11,  1886;  Luella  died 
in  infancy. 


OELSON  S.  FREEMAN,  M.  D.,  a  retired  phy, 
sician  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  is  a 
resident  of  Farmington,  and  Postmaster  at 
that  place.  He  is  the  son  of  Thompson  and  Cath- 
erine (Kelso)  Freeman,  and  was  born  Feb.  17,  1833, 
in  Orange  County,  Ind.  His  paternal  grandparents 
were  natives  of  England,  who  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  in  Virginia.  The  mar- 
riage of  our  subject's  parents  took  place  in  Vir- 
ginia. Mrs.  Freeman  had  been  previously  married, 
and  was  the  mother  of  one  child,  John  Smith,  now 
a  resident  of  Vigo  County,  Ind.  After  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Freeman  removed  to  Orange  County, 
Ind.,  and  thence  to  Putnam  County,  making  the 
latter  place  his  home.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
but  possessed  considerable  business  talent,  and  was 
proprietor  of  a  hotel,  and  also  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business,  dealing  in  furniture. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freeman  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  all  of  whom  attained  maturity, 
but  only  three  are  now  living:  Nelson  S.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Simpson,  a  resident 
of  Crawford  County,  Kan.,  and  Elizabeth,  who  is 
married,  and  a  resident  of  Westfield,  111.  When 
the  home  circle  was  broken  by  the  death  of  his 
wife,  Mr.  Freeman  desired  a  change  of  scene,  and 
removed  to  Clark  County,  111.,  where  he  passed  the 
closing  years  of  his  life,  and  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-six  years. 

Dr.  Freeman  wa's  an  infant  when  his  family 
moved  to  Putnam  County,  Ind.,  and  his  early  life 
was  passed  on  the  homestead  there.  He  received 
a  good  common-school  education,  and  studied 
medicine,  preparator}-  to  entering  the  medical  pro- 
fession. His  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Carman 
took  place  there  in  1851.  Mrs.  Freeman  is  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Beers)  Car- 
man, and  was  born  April  2,  1832,  in  Pennsylvania. 
In  1855  Dr.  Freeman  removed  with  his  young  fam- 
ily to  Coles  County,  111.,  and  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine.  After  remaining  a  short  time, 
he  changed  bis  residence  to  Clark  County,  and  re- 
mained there  until  August,  1857,  and  then,  return- 
ing to  Coles  County,  settled  in  Campbell. 

When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  Dr.  Freeman  was 
among  the  first  to  offer  his  life  in  the  defense  of 
his  country.  He  enlisted  in  the  autumn  of  1861, 


i  - 

f 


COLES   COUNTY. 


t 


.and  was  mustered  into  service  with  a  company  of 
Western  Sharpshooters,  which  afterward  composed 
Co.  F.,  of  the  66th  Illinois  Infantry.  Within  fif- 
teen days  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Assistant 
Surgeon,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  Feb.  20, 
1862.  He  never  possessed  a  vigorous  physique 
and  the  hardships  of  war  told  so  severely  upon  his 
health,  that  on  account  of  physical  disability,  and 
by  the  advice  of  Gen.  Grant,  he  then  left  the  regi- 
ment for  home  to  recruit  his  strength.  But,  re- 
luctant to  leave  the  service  when  so  much  assist- 
ance was  needed,  he  stopped  at  Mound  City,  near 
Cairo,  and  engaged  to  do  hospital  duty  there. 
During  the  June  freshet  it  became  necessary  to 
move  the  hospital  from  that  locality,  and  Dr.  Free- 
man then  went  to  Springfield,  where  he  recruited  a 
company  of  men,  who  were  mustered  in  with  the 
123d  Illinois  Infantry.  During  the  winter  of 
1862-63,  he  was  engaged  in  hospital  duty  at  Cor- 
inth, Memphis  and  President's  Island,  and  in  Au- 
gust, 1863,  received  the  commission  of  Captain  of 
Co.  I.,  63d  U.  S.  Col.  Inf.  His  regiment  was  stationed 
on  guard  duty  in  Mississippi,  Arkansas  and  Louisi- 
ana, and  was  at  one  time  encamped  on  the  planta- 
tion belonging  to  Jefferson  Davis.  The  Doctor  has 
a  chair  in  his  possession  which  was  brought  from 
there  as  a  memento  of  the  war.  He  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  his  regiment  was  mus- 
tered out  Jan.  9,  1866,  and  disbanded  under  gen- 
eral order. 

Dr.  Freeman  is  the  owner  of  his  pleasant  resi- 
dence in  P'armington,  and  also  other  town  property. 
He  has  been  Postmaster  for  many  years,  and  while 
in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health,  was  very  active 
and  energetic,  besides  attending  to  a  large  medical 
practice ;  he  was  also  interested  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits and  other  enterprises.  On  account  of  his 
health  he  has  been  obliged  to  relinquish  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  entirely. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Freeman  had  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  all  of  whom,  with  one  excep- 
tion, are  now  living:  Caroline,  the  wife  of  James 
M.  Newman;  Charles  E.,  Lizzie  A.,  Wilbur  F.  and 
Frank  F. 

.Dr.  and  Mrs.  Freeman  have  been  for  many  years 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In  pol- 
itics the  Doctor  is  a  Republican,  and  cast  his  first 


329 


vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856.  He  has  been 
Postmaster  at  Farmington  for  many  years,  and  has 
also  held  several  other  local  offices,  and  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  public  duties,  both  civil  and  military, 
he  has  won  the  respect  of  his  colleagues  and  the 
confidence  of  the  people.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  G.  A.  R. 


m 


OHN  E.  PERISHO  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm  containing  160  acres,  located  on  section 
1,  Seven  Hickory  Township,  where  he  is 
chiefly  engaged  in  stock-growing.  He  was 
born  Feb.  20,  1850,  in  Edgar  County,  111., and  is  the 
son  of  Isaac  and  Rosana  (O'Hair)  Perisho.  Isaac 
Perisho  was  born  May  2,  1818,  in  Washington 
County,  Ind.,  and  was  about  eight  years  of  age 
when  he  came  with  his  parents,  Joseph  and  Barbara 
(Zink)  Perisho,  to  Edgar  County,  111.  The  former 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  latter  of 
Kentucky.-  Their  family  consisted  of  seven  chil- 
dren :  Harvey,  a  resident  of  Edgar  County ;  Isaac, 
a  resident  of  Coles  County ;  Daniel,  a  resident  of 
Clark  County ;  Joseph,  deceased ;  Emanuel,  a  re- 
sident of  Clark  County,  111. ;  John  and  James,  res- 
idents of  Edgar  County. 

Isaac  Perisho  resided  with  his  parents  until  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Zimmerly,  a  native  of  Edgar 
County,  which  took  place  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Perisho  died  within  a  few  years, 
leaving  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now 
living,  Jacob,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Edgar 
County ;  he  has  a  family  of  seven  children.  Mr. 
Perisho  was  married  the  second  time,  to  Miss  Pur- 
lee,  a  native  of  Washington  County,  Ind.  Only 
one  child  was  born  to  this  marriage,  Hiram,  who  is 
now  married,  and  a  resident  of  Edgar  County.  Mr. 
Perisho's  married  life  was  again  of  short  duration, 
and  after  the  death  of  his  second  wife,  he  married 
Miss  Rosana  O'Hair.  Mrs.  Perisho  is  the  daughter 
of  Michael  and  Rose  (Wells)  O'Hair.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Kentucky,  where  their  daughter 
Rosana  was  born.  Five  children  were  born  to  this 
marriage :  Emily  J.,  the  wife  of  O.  C.  Bower,  a  res- 
ident of  Morgan  Township,  is  the  mother  of  one 
son,  Arthur  E. ;  Ella  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen; 


t, 

-m- 


t  ,   330 


COLES   COUNTY. 


John  K.  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Mary  E.,  the 
wife  of  G.  O.  Davis,  a  resident  of  Charleston,  111., 
has  a  family  of  three  daughters — Minnie,  Lulu  and 
Pearl;  Rosana  ('.,  the  wife  of  A.  J.  Newman,  re- 
sides in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  and  has  a  family 
of  three  children — Olive  P.,  George  M.  and 
Ruby  R. 

September  24,  1874,  our  subject  married  Miss 
Aurelia  Alice  Miller.  Mrs.  Perisho  is  the  daughter 
of  Samuel  F.  and  Bethany  J.  (Jean)  Miller,  and 
was  born  Feb.  7,  1852,  in  Jefferson  County,  Ky. 
Her  paternal  grandfather,  Michael  Miller,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsy  vlania,  but  removed  from  that  State 
at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Kentuckjr,  where  he 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  Samuel  Miller,  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Perisho,  was  a  son  of  the  second  wife. 
There  were  five  children  born  to  the  second  mar- 
riage— Elizabeth,  Susan,  Samuel,  William  and 
Amanda.  Samuel  Miller's  marriage  took  place  March 
13,  1836,  and  his  family  consisted  of  twelve  chil- 
dren :  Mary  E.,  died  in  childhood ;  Catherine  M.  is 
the  wife  of  James  W.  Mulliken.  a  native  of  Indi- 
ana; they  live  in  Arcola,  Douglas  Co.,  111.,  and 
have  a  family  of  eight  children — Edgar,  Lola,  Ira, 
Lorena,  Gertie,  Myrtle,  Ruth  and  Pearl.  John  S. 
is  married  and  lives  in  Hoopeston,  111.;  he  is  the 
father  of  one  child — Cora.  Jane  C.  is  the  wife  of 
E.  L.  Frazier,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  they  have 
four  children — Bertha  C.,  Otis  O.,  Maud  M.  and 
Bessie  B;  William  A.  died  when  a  young  man; 
Robert  E.  died  in  childhood;  Maynard  P.  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  at  Hoopeston;  he  is  the  father  of 
two  sons — J.  S.  and  Walter.  Aurelia  A.  is  the  wife 
of  our  subject;  Michael  is  married  and  lives  in 
Charleston;  he  has  a  family  of  three  children — 
Frederick,  Charles  and  Grace.  Ara  and  Ira  are 
twins;  the  former  married  Miss  Lottie  Long,  and 
lives  in  Charleston,  they  have  one  child — Ethel; 
the  latter  died  in  infancy.  Oscar  is  single  and  re- 
sides in  Champaign,  111. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perisho  have  resided  in  this  neigh- 
borhood for  many  years.  They  passed  one  year 
in  Arcola,  and  the  following  year  in  Charleston, 
where  Mr.  Perisho  opened  a  meat-market.  In  1875 
they  built  their  present  residence,  and  have  since 
made  their  home  here.  Mr.  Perisho  is  chiefly  en- 


gaged  in  stock-raising.  His  farm  is  well  improved, 
and  supplied  with  about  1,000  rods  of  tiling,  all 
of  which  is  on  sections  1  and  12.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Perisho  have  only  one  child,  a  daughter,  Edith  E., 
born  Nov.  4,  1875. 

With  his  wife,  Mr.  Perisho  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  at  Rural  Retreat.  Mrs.  Perisho 
became  a  member  of  the  church  in  Seven  Hickory 
Township  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  her  husband 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  In  politics  Mr.  Perisho 
is  a  Democrat. 


<iF  ALPH  DOLLAR,  proprietor  of  300  acres  of 
valuable  land  on  section  6,  East  Oakland 
Township,  has  been  connected  with  the  ag- 
ricultural  interests  of  that  locality  since 
early  manhood,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  com- 
munity since  first  being  introduced  to  life  and  its 
responsibilities,  as  he  was  born  in  this  township, 
Feb.  15,  1861.  Our  subject  is  of  excellent  Scotch 
ancestry,  being  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Hunt) 
Dollar,  the  former  born  in  Scotland,  July  1,  1807, 
and  the  latter  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Clarke 
County,  Aug.  19,  1822.  Both  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
carried  out  in  their  daily  lives  the  principles  of  the 
religion  which  they  professed. 

John  Dollar  emigrated  from  his  native  country 
in  1833,  and  sojourned  in  Northern  Illinois  until 
1840.  After  a  brief  time  spent  in  Chicago  he  came 
to  this  county,  arriving  here  on  the  4th  of  July, 
that  same  year,  and  located  on  eighty  acres  of  land 
on  section  2,  East  Oakland  Township.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  industry,  and  while  engaged  in  the 
improvement  of  his  farm,  occupied  his  spare  time 
in  ditching  for  the  neighbors  around  him.  By  close 
economy  he  managed  to  save  something  each  year, 
and  in  time  became  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Coles  County.  His  honesty 
and  integrity  secured  him  hosts  of  friends,  and  no 
man  was  more  straightforward  in  his  business  trans- 
actions. As  time  progressed  he  accumulated  more 
land,  and  engaged  largely  in  stock-raising.  After 
becoming  a  naturalized  citizen  he  identified  him- 
self with  the  Republican  party,  and  during  the  war 


COLES   COUNTY. 


331 


sympathized  warmly  with  the  Union  cause.  After 
building  up  a  good  record  as  a  man  and  citizen,  he 
was  gathered  to  his  fathers  at  an  advanced  age,  his 
death  taking  place  Jan.  16,  1883. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  the  daughter  of 
James  D.  and  Nancy  (Jones)  Hunt,  of  Clarke  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  became  the  wife  of  John  Dollar  on  the 
8th  of  April,  1847,  their  wedding  taking  place  in 
this  county.  She  had  been  previously  married  to 
Nicholas  Curtis,  in  February,  1840,  and  Mr.  C. 
died  four  years  later,  on  the  2d  of  June,  1844. 
He  was  born  in  1818,  and  followed  farming  all  his 
life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis  had  three  children — 
Charles,  Ophelia  and  Samantba. 

The  three  sisters  and  the  brother  of  our  subject 
were  Margaret,  Nancy,  Sarah  and  James  B.  The 
latter  died  in  childhood.  Ralph,  of  our  sketch,  was 
married  three  days  after  reaching  his  twenty-fifth 
year,  to  Miss  Josie  M.  Harmon,  Feb.  18,  1886. 
Mrs.  D.  was  born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  June 
13,  1862,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Arthur  and  Re- 
becca (Gregg)  Harmon,  who  are  now  living  in  this 
township.  They  have  one  child,  John  Arthur. 
Mr.  Dollar  is  Republican  in  politics,  like  his  father 
before  him,  and  is  in  all  respects  the  peaceable,  law- 
abiding,  industrious  and  enterprising  citizen  who, 
like  his  compeers,  has  followed  in  the  footsteps  of 
the  pioneer  fathers  and  mothers,  and  carried  on  the 
work  which  they  began  half  a  century  ago.  But 
for  their  labors,  the  great  State  of  Illinois  would 
not  have  attained  its  present  importance,  and  it  is 
gratifying  to  observe  how  well  the  sons  of  the  old 
settlers  are  carrying  the  mantle  which  descended 
upon  them  from  their  fathers. 


?RANK  F.  FREEMAN,  the  youngest  son  of 
Dr.  Nelson  Freeman,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears in  this  work,  was  born  June  24,  1862, 
in  this  county.  He  received  an  excellent  business 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  perfected 
himself  in  the  art  of  telegraphy.  He  was  first  em- 
ployed as  telegraph  operator  on  the  T.  &  P.  R.  II.. 
and  subsequently  held  the  position  of  Station 
Agent  for  the  T.,  St.  L.  &  K.  C.  R.  R.  at  Edwards- 
ville.  He  returned  home  March  15,  1885,  and  has 


since  carried  on  a  general  mercantile  business  at 
Campbell. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Andrews  took  place  Aug.  26,  1883.  Mrs.  Freeman 
is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Caroline  Andrews. 
She  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  111.,  and  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage  resided  in  McLean  County. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freeman  have  two  beautiful  children — 
Ernest  M.  and  Francis  Fay.  In  politics  Mr.  Free- 
man is  a  Republican,  and  holds  the  position  of 
Town  Clerk. 

Mr.  Freeman  is  a  young  man  whose  career  in 
life  is  just  opening.  He  is  popular  among  his 
friends,  honorable  and  upright  in  his  business  deal- 
ings, and  is  one  of  whom  all  may  reasonably  pre- 
dict a  successful  future. 


J.  GANNAWAY,  who  for  fifty-eight 
years  has  been  numbered  as  one  of  the 
worthy  residents  of  Paradise  Township, 
first  drew  breath  in  Grayson  County,  Ky., 
20,  1826.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Williams)  Gannaway,  whose  household 
included  eighteen  olive  branches,  ten  of  whom 
lived  to  maturity. 

John  Gannaway,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Virginia,  born 
in  November,  1789,  was  the  son  of  William  and 
Sallie  (Gaunaway)  Gannaway,  and  when  a  young 
man  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  which  he 
followed  in  his  native  State  until  1829.  He  then 
removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois,  locating  first 
at  Muddy  Point,  this  county,  whence  he  soon 
afterward  removed  to  Paradise  Township,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death,  Feb.  27,  1875.  He 
bought  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  on  section  13, 
which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son,  our  subject. 
He  was  a  quiet  and  unobtrusive  citizen,  highly 
respected  by  his  neighbors,  and  with  his  wife,  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Our  subject  was  a  youth  of  eighteen  years  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  the  farm  which  has 
since  continuously  been  his  home.  He  has  added 
to  the  original  area,  and  is  now  the  proprietor  of 
400  acres.  When  twenty-seven  years  of  age  he 


4 


332 


COLES   COUNTY. 


was  married,  Dec.  1,  1853,  to  Miss  Sarah  L.,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Margaret  (Love)  Williams,  of 
Hardiu  County,  Ky.  Samuel  Williams  was  the 
son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Williams,  and  his 
wife,  Margaret,  was  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  Love.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  became  the  parents 
of  five  children,  all  living  and  named  respectively, 
Samuel,  Margaret  E.,  Artemesia  M.,  Abraham  L. 
and  John.  The  eldest  son,  Samuel,  married  Miss 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Ruth  Jones,  and  is 
occupied  in  farming  near  the  homestead  of  his 
father;  they  have  two  children — Sarah  and  Willard 
Earl.  Margaret  M.  is  the  wife  of  Simeon  Horsley, 
and  is  living  with  her  husband  on  a  farm  in 
Mattoon  Township;  they  have  four  children — John, 
Landie  Lee,  Homer  and  Josephine. 

Mr.  Gannaway  has  been  prominent  in  the  local 
affairs  of  his  township,  serving  as  School  Director 
and  Commissioner,  but  takes  no  further  part  in 
politics  than  to  cast  his  vote  at  important  elections, 
witli  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  member  and 
Trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  has 
in  all  respects  fulfilled  his  duties  as  an  honest  man 
and  a  good  citizen. 


OSEPH  F.  GREEN,  who  worthily  represents 
the  legal  profession  at  Oakland,  is  a  native 
of  Miami  County,  Ohio,  born  in  the  town  of 
Troy,  April  7,  1857.  His  parents,  Stephen 
D.  and  Hannah  (French)  Green,  were  natives  of 
the  same  State,  the  father  born  in  September,  1823, 
and  the  mother  in  May  of  the  same  year.  The 
latter  died  at  the  homestead  in  Troy,  Ohio,  Aug. 
19,  1883.  The  father  is  still  living,  and  remains  in 
the  home  where  he  settled  when  first  married,  and 
where  his  children  were  born. 

Stephen  D.  Green  was  fairly  educated,  com- 
pleting his  studies  in  the  High  School  at  Pickaway, 
Ohio,  and  being  reared  to  manhood  in  Miami 
County.  During  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War  he 
engaged  in  the  commission  business  with  a  partner, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Huddleson,  Green  &  Co., 
making  his  headquarters  at  Cincinnati  and  dealing 
principally  in  live  stock.  In  1866  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Berea,  and  engaged  in  the  real-estate 


business  there,  his  transactions  also  extending  into 
Mason  County,  111.  The  record  of  Stephen  D. 
Green's  children  is  as  follows:  Asa  T.,  Zelora, 
Glenn;  Eli/.a,  who  married  Alonzo  Thackery,  and 
Joseph  F. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  came  to  Illinois  in 
1879,  and  taking  up  his  abode  in  Oakland  spent  a 
part  of  his  time  here  and  the  balance  in  Ohio, 
where  he  was  interested  in  teaching  school.  He 
had  completed  his  classical  course  of  study  in  the 
Lebanon  Normal  University  in  1873,  but  continued 
at  his  books  thereafter  four  years,  finally  taking  a 
regular  course  in  the  college  at  Vermilion,  giving  • 
his  attention  principally  to  the  dead  languages  and 
the  sciences.  Afterward  he  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing for  several  years.  He  finally  engaged  in  the 
grain  trade  at  Oakland,  having  offices  likewise  at 
Hinesboro,  Lake  City  and  Hervey  City,  operating 
with  his  brother  under  the  firm  name  of  Green 
Bros.  They  subsequently  added  lumber,  in  which 
they  transacted  quite  an  extensive  business,  and 
continued  four  years,  there  and  at  Lebanon,  Ohio. 
In  1882  the  brothers  commenced  the  manufacture 
of  tile  at  Oakland,  turning  out  annually  about 
$10,000  worth. 

Our  subject,  however,  desired  a  different  kind  of 
life,  and  felt  that  he  had  talents  which  might  be 
better  employed.  Accordingly,  in  1884,  he  en- 
tered the  Cincinnati  Law  School,  where  he  studied 
a  year,  and  being  still  athirst  for  learning,  repaired 
to  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  and  studied  civil  engineering, 
in  which  he  perfected  himself,  and  has  followed  it 
for  the  last  two  years.  In  1885  he  entered  the 
Union  Law  School  at  Chicago,  where,  after  closely 
applying  himself  two  terms  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  in  1886,  and  soon  afterward  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  which  he  has  since 
followed. 

The  marriage  of  Joseph  F.  Green  and  Miss  Jennie 
Sausser,  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride's 
parents  in  Lebanon,  June  2,  1881.  Mrs.  Green 
was  born  in  Lebanon,  Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1858, 
and  is  the  only  daughter  of  Col.  C.  E.  and  Mary 
(Fay)  Sausser,  natives  of  Ohio.  Her  father  served 
as  Colonel  of  an  Ohio  regiment  of  infantry  during 
the  late  war,  being  commissioned  for  his  bravery 
and  fidelity  in  the  Union  cause.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  ' 

•»     • 


COLES   COUNTY. 


333 


Green  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  Annie  E.,  who 
was  born  Oct.  9,  1884.  Mrs.  G.  is  well  connected, 
being  second  cousin  to  Senator  Payne  of  Ohio. 
Our  subject  and  wife  are  members  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  Old-School  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
Mr.  G.  is  a  stanch  Republican,  politically,  although 
a  second  cousin  to  Jefferson  Davis,  of  Confederate 
fame. 


McCRORY,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Illinois,  is  a  well-known  and  substantial 
farmer,  residing  in  Lafayette  Township  on 
(Kg)//  section  2,  town  12,  range  8.  He  was  born 
Nov.  16,  1814,  in  Bourbon  County,  Ky.  His 
father,  James  McCrory,  Sr.,  was  born  in  the  North 
of  Ireland,  whither  his  family  had  fled  from  Scot- 
land to  escape  the  persecutions  which  disturbed 
that  country  during  the  latter  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  He  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  when  a  young  man,  and  settled  in  Kentucky, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming,  his  marriage  to 
Mrs.  Sarah  Vance  taking  place  there.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Crory was  a  native  of  Virginia.  Both  parents 
died  before  reaching  the  prime  of  life,  leaving  a 
family  of  three  children,  whose  names  are,  Jane, 
Elizabeth,  and  James,  our  subject.  Jane  became 
the  wife  of  James  Gray,  and  Elizabeth  the  wife  of 
William  Kendall.  The  two  daughters  are  now 
deceased,  leaving  James  the  sole  survivor  of  the 
family. 

James  McCrory  was  a  young  lad  when  he  had 
the  misfortune  to  lose  both  of  his  parents,  and 
resided  with  his  brother-in-law  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  At  that  time,  while  on  a  visit 
to  some  friends  in  Missouri,  he  engaged  as  clerk  in 
a  store  at  Palmyra,  retaining  the  position  several 
months.  He  then  returned  to  Kentucky  and 
opened  a  dry-goods  house,  but  the  panic  of 
1837  compelled  him  to  leave  Kentucky,  and  con- 
sequently he  removed  with  his  goods  to  Charleston, 
this  county,  where  he  closed  out  his  stock.  In 
1839  he  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  for  a  short 
time  he  resumed  the  mercantile  business  in 
Harrison  County,  and  subsequently  engaged  in 
various  employments  there,  until  the  spring  of  1850. 
He  then  returned  to  Coles  County,  and  was  en- 


gaged  in  the  mercantile  business  three  years  in 
Charleston.  In  1853  he  was  elected  County 
Clerk,  and  retained  the  position  eight  years,  having 
been  elected  the  second  time.  At  the  expiration 
of  this  time  he  resumed  the  mercantile  business, 
and  in  1867  sold  his  stock  and  purchased  the  farm 
upon  which  he  now  resides,  which  contains  160 
acres  of  laud,  all  brought  to  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. After  passing  through  many  business  vicissi- 
tudes he  is  now  spending  the  evening  of  life  in  com- 
parative tranquility  and  retirement. 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Chambers  took 
place  in  Cynthiana,  Harrison  Co.,  Ky.,  March  20, 
1838.  She  is  the  daughter  of  James  Chambers, 
and  was  born  in  Harrison  County,  Ky.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McCrory  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  as 
follows:  William  E.,  Henry  M.,  Frank,  Joe, 
Charles  D.,  Sarah  E.,  Elizabeth;  one  daughter  died 
in  childhood,  and  one  son,  James  T.,  died  at  the 
age  of  nineteen.  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Luke 
F.  Wilson,  and  Elizabeth  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Neal, 
M.  D. 

Mr.  McCrory  was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
public  duties  while  holding  office,  and  is  a  highly 
esteemed  citizen  of  the  township.  Although  not 
actively  interested  in  politics,  he  votes  with  the 
Democratic  partj'. 


LEXANDER    MONTGOMERY,  deceased. 
LM    The    name    which    heads    this    sketch    is 


worthy  of  honorable  mention  among  the 
self-made  men  of  whom  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois may  well  be  proud.  Mr.  Montgomery  was 
born  Ma}'  5,  1808,  near  Huntsville,  Ala.  When  a 
young  man  his  parents  removed  to  Indiana,  and 
settled  near  Rockville.  He  accompanied  them,  and 
remained  there  until  1829,  and  then  removed  to 
Coles  County,  111.,  where  he  first  settled  near 
Charleston,  but  subsequently  changed  his  location 
to  Lafayette  Township.  He  commenced  life  a 
poor  man,  and  when  he  came  to  Illinois  his  wife 
and  himself  rode  on  the  same  horse,  which  was 
their  only  possession.  However,  he  was  possessed 
of  excellent  business  qualifications,  and  engaged  in 
stock-dealing,  which  enterprise  proved  very  sue- 


I 


334 


COLES   COUNTY. 


cessful.  He  purchased  cattle  and  drove  them  to 
the  Terre  Haute  market,  and  began  building  up  his 
fortune  on  this  foundation.  He  made  money  rap- 
idly, and  became  the  owner  of  about  700  acres  of 
land,  all^of  which  was  well  improved  and  cultivated, 
with  the  exception  of  100  acres  of  timber. 

In  1871  Mr.  Montgomery  moved  with  his  family 
to  Texas,  in  order  to  afford  his  children  the  ad- 
vantages for  advancement  in  life,  which  were  very 
promising  in  that  State.  While  there  he  resided 
three  years  near  Sherman  and  two  years  in  the 
vicinity  of  Denison.  He  was  successful  in  business, 
and  became  the  owner  of  2,000  acres  of  land  in 
that  State.  At  the  expiration  of  five  years  he  re- 
turned to  Coles  County,  having  retained  his  prop- 
erty hen;,  but  unknown  to  himself  his  life  was  fast 
drawing  to  a  close,  and  the  mysterious  curtain  of 
death  was  very  soon  to  be  drawn  over  the  last 
scene  of  his  busy,  useful  life.  He  died  in  1877, 
the  year  following  his  return  home.  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery became  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and 
continued  his  relation  with  that  religious  body 
throughout  life.  In  politics  he  was  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  'party. 

Mr.  Montgomery  was  thrice  married,  his  first 
marriage  to  Miss  Margaret  McCollister  taking  place 
in  Indiana.  She  died  leaving  three  children,  two 
of  whom  are  now  living — Eliza  J.,  now  Mrs.  Ew- 
ing,  and  Margaret,  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Puriton. 
Both  are  residents  of  Texas.  His  second  wife  was 
Miss  Martha  Ann  Glass,  who  died  leaving  one  child, 
Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Cochran,  who  is  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Texas.  His  third  wife,  Mrs.  Lucinda 
(Miller)  Abbott,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1812, 
and  died  two  months  prior  to  the  death  of  Mr. 
Montgomery.  A  family  of  six  children  were  born 
to  them,  whose  names  are  Mary  E.,  Leander  Frank- 
lin, Mattie  M.,  Robert  D.,  William  M.  and  Benton. 
Mary  E.  became  the  wife  of  C.  P.  Sites,  and  resides 
in  Texas;  Leander  is  a  resident  of  El  Dorado,  Kan. ; 
William  M.  married  Alice  P.  McPheron  and  resides 
on  the  old  home  place,  and  owns  300  acres  of  land, 
and  Benton  died  in  infancy.  By  her  former  hus- 
band Mrs.  Montgomery  had  one  child,  Nancy,  who 
married  Fletcher  Miller  and  resides  in  Mattoon. 

Robert  D.   was  born   in   Coles  County,   May  6, 


1850,  and  now  represents  the  family  here.  He  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  accompanied  the 
family  to  Texas  when  they  removed  to  that  State, 
remaining  there  six  years.  Like  his  father  he  has 
been  prosperous  in  business,  and  is  the  owner  of  a 
fine  estate  containing  300  acres  of  land.  His  sis- 
ter Mattie  resides  with  him,  and  has  an  interest  in 
the  property.  In  politics  Mr.  Montgomery  is  a 
Democrat. 


T  I.  COLEY  is  a  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  residing  on  section  1,  East  Oakland 
Township.  He  is  the  son  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (McClain)  Coley,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  and  was  born 
Nov.  30,  1825,  in  Mason  County,  Ky.  His  father 
served  as  a  private  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was 
stationed  at  Norfolk,  Va.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade  and  also  engaged  to  some  extent  in  farming. 
He  moved  from  Kentucky  to  Greencastle,  Ind.,  in 
about  the  year  1831,  where  he  followed  his  trade 
for  one  year.  He  then  entered  a  tract  of  land  and 
turned  his  attention  more  exclusively  to  farming. 
He  remained  in  Indiana  until  1851,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Pike  County,  111.,  settling  near  Pittsneld, 
where  he  spent  the  last  days  of  his  life.  His  death 
occurred  Aug.  5,  1874.  He  was  born  in  1799,  and 
was  married  in  about  the  year  1823.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  Deacon  in  the  Christian  Church,  and 
was  actively  engaged  in  promoting  its  interests. 
His  wife  was  born  Oct.  10,  1802,  and  died  Nov.  16, 
1878.  She  also  was  a  member  and  earnest  worker 
in  the  Church  of  Christ. 

The  following  is  the  record  of  their  family  of 
twelve  children  :  Three  died  in  infancy ;  Robert  1. ; 
Nancy  A.  married  William  Brown,  and  is  now  de- 
ceased ;  Albert  G.  married  Miss  Southerland,  and 
resides  in  Pike  County,  111.;  Lewis  J.  married 
Miss  Rooks,  and  is  deceased;  Eliza  E.  married 
Jesse  Crow ;  Thomas  H.  married  Martha  Goodin; 
he  was  formerly  a  well-known  teacher,  and  in  1868 
was  elected  County  Treasurer  of  Pike  County,  111. 
John  L.  married  Miss  Mary  Weaver;  Ann  E.  is  the 


COLES   COUNTY. 


335 


wife  of  William  Duffleld;  Mary  F.  married  Will- 
iam Goodin,  and  is  now  deceased. 

Robert  I.  Coley,  the  subject  of  this  biography, 
was  married  Nov.  25,  1851.  in  Hendricks  County, 
Ind.,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Kennedy,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  by  Rev.  John  Edwards,  Pastor  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  Mrs.  Coley  was  born  Oct. 
13,  1829,  in  Hendricks  County,  Ind.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (Dodson)  Ken- 
nedy. Her  father,  Jesse  Kennedy,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  where  he  was  born  in  1792.  In  1853  he 
moved  to  Newtown,  Iowa,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  Sept.  27, 
1874.  He  was  married  three  times;  the  first  time 
in  March,  1817;  the  second,  April  29,  1841,  and 
the  third  Jan.  1,  1855.  His  children  were  all  by 
his  first  wife,  and  the  following  is  the  record :  Ma- 
ria, born  March  27,  1818,  was  married  to  Isaac 
Kelly,  in  1836;  Mary,  born  Feb.  1.8,  1820;  Stock- 
ton  D.,  Dec.  25,  1821 ;  Catherine  A.  Dec.  18,  1823; 
Leonard  D.,  Dec.  28,  1825;  Olive  J.,  Sept.  4,  1827; 
Elizabeth  R.,  Oct.  13,  1829;  Jessie  R.,  June  9,  1831; 
Thomas  T.,  Dec.  8,  1834;  Solomon  E.,  born  May 
21,  1836,  is  deceased;  Simeon,  born  Dec.  25,  1837, 
deceased;  Joseph  C.,  born  March  19,  1839. 

Robert  I.  Coley  came  with  his  family  to  this 
township  in  October,  1858,  where  he  first  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land.  He  has  constantly  added  to 
this  until  he  now  has  a  fine  estate  of  114  acres.  He 
was  brought  up  to  the  printer's  trade,  in  which  he 
was  very  successful  during  the  early  part  of  his 
life,  but  since  his  removal  to  this  township  he  has 
given  his  attention  more  exclusively  to  farming 
and  stock-raising.  In  the  latter  pursuit  he  gives 
special  attention  to  the  breeding  of  Poland-China 
hogs. 

The  family  of  our  subject  and  wife  comprises 
nine  children,  whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are 
as  follows:  Laura  E.,  born  Dec.  30,  1852,  is  the 
wife  of  James  W.  Leitch;  Origen  V..  born  Sept.  5, 
1854;  Henry  C.,  May  4,  1856 ;  Horace  B.,  March 
7,  1858;  Charles  D.,  May  6,  1860;  May  J.,  Feb.  8, 
1862;  Carrie  E.,  April  21,  1866;  Jessie  F.,  June  21, 
1870;  Albert  L.,  Feb.  28,  1872. 

Mr.  Coley  is  a  Deacon  in  the  Christian  Church, 
in  which  organization  himself  and  wife  have  been 
active  members  for  many  years.  In  politics  he  is 


an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  His 
property  is  mostly  invested  in  his  farm  and  stock. 
His  family  has  long  been  well  known  and  highly 
respected  in  the  community,  and  six  of  his  children 
are  or  have  been  school  teachers. 


G.  TILEY,  General  Yardmaster  for  the  I. 
&  St.  L.  R.  R.,  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
Coles  County  and  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Mattoou.  He  was  born  April  29,  1847,  in 
Liverpool,  England,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  G. 
a«d  Eliza  (Owen)  Tiley.  His  parents  were  also 
natives  of  Liverpool,  England,  where  their  mar- 
riage took  place.  They  emigrated  to  America 
about  the  year  1852,  and  settled  at  Lillie's  Station, 
in  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  where,  in  connection 
with  his  brother  William,  the  father  was  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  coal  works  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  then  sold  out  his  interest  there  and 
moved  to  Johnstown,  Pa.,  and  was  there  appointed 
Superintendent  of  the  Cambria  Iron  Works.  He 
subsequently  removed  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  he 
became  connected  with  the  public  works  of  that 
city.  In  1860,  he  changed  his  location  to  Ports- 
mouth, Ohio,  and  there  accepted  the  position  of 
Superintendent  of  the  gas  works  and  city  im- 
provements. 

When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  he  enlisted  in 
the  pioneer  corps  under  Gen.  Buell,  and  served  un- 
til 1864.  He  was  twice  taken  prisoner  \>y  Morgan, 
but  only  detained  for  a  short  time,  and  returned 
from  the  army  broken  in  health,  from  disease  con- 
tracted while  in  the  service.  He  engaged  in  taking 
contracts  on  the  East  Division  of  the  I.  &  St.  L. 
R.  R.,  and  afterward  engaged  in  coal-mining  at 
Carbon,  Ind.  He  had  never  recovered  from  the 
ravages  of  the  disease  contracted  during  his  service 
in  the  Civil  War,  and  his  death  occurred  in  1880. 
His  widow  is  still  living,  and  resides  at  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.  The  family  consisted  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows:  John 
S.,  the  engineer  and  book-keeper  at  Snoddy's  Mills, 
Ind. ;  Rose,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Folk,  a  resident  of  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.;  S.  G.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Annie,  the  wife  of  Mr,  Dickerson,  a  resident  of 


T 


336 


COLES   COUNTY. 


rf 


Seelyville,  Ind.,  and  one.  of  the  leading  men  of 
Vigo  County;  William,  the  proprietor  of  a  black- 
smith shop  at  Fontanet,  Ind.;  Thomas  W.,  operator 
of  the  coal  shaft  at  Snoddy's  Mills,  Ind.;  and 
James,  a  resident  of  Raton,  N.  M.,  engineer  on  the 
A.,  T.  <fe  S.  F.  R.  R. 

S.  G.  Tiley  received  a  practical  education,  and 
remained  at  home  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  and 
when  the  last  call  was  made  for  troops  he  enlisted 
at  Terre  Haute,  but  his  father  thinking  him  too 
tender  in  years  to  undergo  the  hardships  of  the 
service,  entered  his  objection  to  the  recruiting 
officer,  and  the  boy  was  accordingly  dismissed. 
But  he  was  active  and  ambitious,  and  later  in  tlje 
autumn  started  out  in  search  of  work,  which  he 
succeeded  in  obtaining  on  a  farm,  near  Farmers- 
•burg,  Ind.,  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of 
1866,  when  he  journeyed  overland  to  Arcola,  111. 
He  there  assisted  a  farmer,  N.  J.  Wall,  in  gather- 
ing corn,  and  when  this  work  was  completed,  went 
on  foot  to  Mattoon,  arriving  there  with  only  $2 
in  money,  having  sent  the  rest  of  his  earnings  to 
his  parents. 

Our  subject  next  accepted  a  position  in  the 
Water  Supply  Department  of  the  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R., 
and  aided  in  boring  for  water  in  a  large  well  near 
Capen's  implement  house,  and  afterward  assisted 
in  sinking  wells  at  Dorsey  and  Sandford.  In  1869 
he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  night  baggage- 
man, and  in  1871  assumed  the  duties  of  night  yard- 
master,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  two  years ; 
he  was  then  appointed  night  and  day  baggageman, 
and  was  thus  engaged  for  three  years,  and  in  June, 
1876,  again  had  charge  of  the  night  yards  and  con- 
.tinued  until  the  following  September,  when  he  was 
appointed  to  his  present  position.  Mr.  Tiley  is  re- 
liable and  energetic,  and  during  his  services  on  the 
I.  <fe  St.  L.  R.  R.,  although  there  have  been  many 
changes  in  its  management,  his  position  has  always 
been  secure.  The  capacity  of  the  yards  has 
grown  from  150  to  1,000  cars,  and  while  he  could 
at  first  manage  that  department  alone,  he  now  has 
no  less  than  150  men  under  his  supervision,  and  so 
universally  honorable  are  his  dealings  with  his  em- 
ployes, that  all  hold  him  in  the  highest  esteem. 

Three  times  he  came  near  losing  his  life  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties;  the  first  time  by  a  brake 


giving  way,  he  was  thrown  from  the  top  of  a  car  to 
the  ground,  and  besides  sustaining  other  injuries 
his  foot  was  broken.  The  second  and  third  times 
by  a  draw-bar  giving  way  in  coupling  cars,  and  the 
last  time  he  was  so  seriously  hurt  that  he  was  taken 
home,  as  it  was  supposed,  lifeless,  but  after  a  pro- 
tracted illness  was  restored  to  health  and  vigor. 
In  1868  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sue  Rowley. 
Mrs.  Tiley  is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy 
(Dillon)  Rowley,  of  Sciotoville,  Ohio.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tiley  have  a  family  of  four  children,  all  liv- 
ing, as  follows:  William  G.,  Lillie  I.,  Harry  and 
S.  G.,  Jr. 

Mr.  Tiley  forms  a  notable  example  of  a  mechanic 
and  laboring  man,  who  commenced  life  engaged  as 
a  wage- worker  by  the  day,  at  any  honorable,  honest 
occupation  that  presented  itself,  and  by  his  indus- 
try and  integrity  has  worked  his  way  up  to  a  high 
and  responsible  position,  thereby  illustrating  what 
industiy,  coupled  with  ability  and  integrity,  can 
accomplish  in  this  country  of  freedom,  where  such 
qualities  are  sure  of  their  reward.  In  every  posi- 
tion in  which  he  has  been  called  upon  to  act,  he  has 
proved  himself  worthy  of  the  trust  reposed  in  him. 
He  was  Assistant  Supervisor  of  Mattoon  during 
the  years  1884-85,  and  at  all  times  considered  the 
best  interests  of  the  people,  his  official  acts  bearing 
the  closest  investigation.  Mr.  Tiley  is  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  party ;  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  also  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  In  1886  he  was  candidate  for  the 
position  of  County  Sheriff,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
small  majority  of  seventy-six  votes,  the  entire 
Democratic  ticket  being  defeated. 


W.  GILBERT.  As  a  fair  representative 
of  the  farming  interests  of  Oakland  Town- 
ship, this  gentleman  deserves  more  than 
passing  notice  in  a  volume  which  will  doubt- 
less be  perused  with  interest  by  a  large  proportion 
of  the  intelligent  people  of  Central  Illinois.  His  em- 
ployment has  been  principally  farming  and  stock- 
growing,  in  which  he  lias  attained  a  fine  reputation 
as  having  operated  with  more  than  ordinary  suc- 
cess. His  real  estate  embraces  a  valuable  farm  of 


COLES   COUNTY. 


337 


200  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land,  with  a  hand- 
some and  convenient  residence,  and  all  the  out- 
buildings required  in  this  age  of  progress  and  im- 
provement. He  located  on  his  present  homestead 
in  1882,  and  has  become  one  of  the  important  fac- 
tors in  the  agricultural  interests  of  his  section. 

Mr.  Gilbert  is  a  native  of  Jackson  County,  Ind., 
and  was  born  Sept.  19,  1840.  He  is  the  son  of 
Aniasa  and  Nancy  N.  (Baldwin)  Gilbert,  natives 
respectively  of  New  York  and  Indiana.  The  par- 
ental family  included  four  children,  namely,  Meecly 
of  our  sketch,  Toss,  Tipton  S.  and  Mary.  The 
mother  departed  this  life  Dec.  16,  1881,  while  the 
family  were  residents  of  this  township.  Amasa  Gil- 
bert, for  his  second  wife,  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Redman,  and  is  still  living,  a  resident  of  Oakland. 
He  came  to  this  State  in  the  spring  of  1872,  lo- 
cating in  Oakland,  and  has  since  resided  there, 
retired  from  active  labor,  and  enjoying  the  accu- 
mulations of  industry  as  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Jackson  County.  Ind. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  continued  on  his 
father's  farm  until  after  reaching  his  majority,  and 
on  the  26th  of  March,  1862,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  a  lady  of  his  own  county.  Miss  Mary  E.  Will- 
iams, who  was  born  in  January,  1839,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  James  and  Julia  (Bobo) -Williams,  also 
natives  of  that  State,  where  the  death  of  both  oc- 
curred several  years  ago.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  came 
to  this  State  shortly  after  their  marriage,  locating 
first  in  Oakland  Township,  which  remained  their 
residence  until  their  removal  to  their  present  farm. 
Their  household  includes  three  bright  children — 
Lenny  C.,  Grace  M.  and  Meedy  B.  Mr.  Gilbert 
identified  himself  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  in 
1866,  and  at  present  belongs  to  Oakland  Lodge 
No.  219.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  religiously  a  member  of  the  Free  Baptist 
Church. 

Mr.  Gilbert  may  be  termed  a  self-made  man,  and 
his  career  presents  an  illustration  of  resolution  and 
energy  which  the  faint-hearted  will  do  well  to  fol- 
low. He  has  met  with  many  reverses,  having  lost 
all  his  property  at  one  time  in  Indiana,  and  being 
totally  without  means  upon  coming  to  this  county. 
He  lost  no  time,  however,  in  bewailing  his  fate,  but 
immediately  set  about  to  retrieve  his  fortunes,  and 


in  the  space  of  fourteen  years,  beginning  with  noth- 
ing but  his  willing  heart  and  strong  hands,  has  be- 
come in  reality  a  capitalist.  His  farm  is  well 
stocked  with  good  grades  of  the  domestic  animals, 
,  including  horses,  cattle  and  hogs,  fattening  150  of 
the  latter  annually.  His  horses  will  bear  fair  com- 
parison with  anything  of  the  kind  in  this  sectioi^ 
and  as  a  ^breeder  he  has  alreadj"  made  for  himself 
an  enviable  reputation.  He  has  now  (1887)  on  his 
farm  three  carloads  of  very  fine  fat  cattle,  which  he 
will  ere  long  ship  to  the  Eastern  markets,  and 
which,  if  no  misfortune  happens  to  them,  will  bring 
to  the  enterprising  owner  a  handsome  sum  of 
money.  Those  who  know  Mr.  Gilbert  best  agree 
that  he  deserves  his  prosperity,  and  that  as  an  hon- 
est man  and  a  good  citizen  his  rightful  place  is  in 
the  front  ranks. 


\f]  OSEPH  S.  WRIGHT,  a  farmer  and  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  Ashmore  Township,  was 
born  May  14,  1831,  in  Butler  County,  Ohio. 
He  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Catherine 

x-a=S-' 

(Mell)  Wright,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  Robert  Wright  was 
born  Eeb.  2,  1798.  in  Bracken  County,  Ky.,  and 
was  a  cooper  by  trade.  He  came  to  this  State  in 
1851,  settling  in  Coles  County,  where  his  death 
occurred  the  following  October.  His  wife,  who  was 
born  in  1806,  died  eight  days  previous  to  her  hus- 
band. They  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  he  was  for  many  years  a  Class-Leader. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  them,  whose  names 
are  as  follows:  John,  Joseph  S.,  Elizabeth  M., 
Catherine  J.,  Robert,  Sarah  H.,  Patience  A.,  George 
W.,  Wesley,  Emma  and  William. 

Joseph  Wright  came  to  Illinois  in  1851,  where 
his  marriage  to  Miss  Diadarnia  P.  Brooks  took 
place  Feb.  7,  1856.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Archi- 
bald and  Nancy  (Powell)  Brooks,  and  was  born  in 
Illinois,  Feb.  29,  1836.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Ohio.  On  his  arrival  in  this  township  Joseph 
was  engaged  for  two  years  in  farming  by  the 
month,  and  also  found  employment  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  in  which  he  was  vei'3'  skillful.  He  succeeded 
so  well  in  business,  that  hi  1870  he  was  enabled  to 


I 


i 


«*»- 


t  ,   338 


COLES    COUNTY. 


purchase  a  farm  of  forty  acres,  which  he  cultivated 
and  improved,  and  subsequently  added  twenty 
more.  He  had  received  an  excellent  education,  and 
taught  school  for  two  years.  He  is  much  interested 
in  educational  affairs,  and  was  for  many  years 
School  Trustee,  and  is  now  Treasurer,  having 
served  as  Supervisor  of  the  township  two  terms, 
and  acted  as  Chairman  of  the  Board  for  some  time. 
Since  1864  he  has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  his  decisions  have  never  been  reversed 
when  carried  to  the  higher  courts.  He  is  a  man 
possessing  great  executive  ability,  good  judgment 
and  tact,  and  has  faithfully  discharged  all  the  du- 
ties committed  to  his  trust. 

Our  subject  and  wife  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children :  Charles  A.  married  Miss  Mar- 
tha E.  Wicker,  who  died  leaving  one  child,  Tenie 
O. ;  Mary  H.,  deceased,  formerly  the  wife  of  John 
A.  Frazer;  George  A.,  deceased;  Benjamin  A.  and 
Stephen  A.  His  sons  are  all  teachers.  Mr.  Wright 
has  been  for  many  years  a  member,  and  one  of  the 
Elders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics  he 
is  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 


ON.  AZARIAH  JEFFRIS,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Coles  Count}',  is  an  extensive  farmer, 
stock-raiser  and  dealer,  residing  in  Pleasant 
Grove  Township.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Patsey  (Shelton)  Jeffris,  and  was  born  April  29, 
1836,  on  the  farm  he  now  owns.  Thomas  Jeffris 
was  born  in  1796,  in  Hanover  County,  Va.,  and  was 
of  Scotch  parentage.  In  his  infancy  his  family  re- 
moved to  Grayson  County,  Ky.,  where  his  father 
engaged  in  farming,  and  made  his  permanent  home. 
Thomas  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  passed  his 
early  life  in  that  State, ^where  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Patsey  Shelton  took  place.  She  was  born  in  1794, 
in  Tennessee.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Jeffris  with 
his  young  wife  left  his  home  in  Kentucky,  and  in 
the  autumn  of  1830  came  to  Coles  County.  He 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  and  at  the  same  time  entered  a  tract  of 


Government  land.  Brave  hearts  and  willing  hands 
were  required  to  face  the  perils  and  hardships  of 
pioneer  life  in  Illinois  at  that  early  day,  but,  aided 
by  his  devoted  wife,  he  successfully  encountered 
and  overcame  the  difficulties  and  obstacles  inci- 
dental to  the  settlement  of  a  new  country.  Mr. 
Jeffris  was  a  poor  man  when  he  came  to  the  county, 
and  by  his  industry  and  enterprise  acquired  a  fine 
estate,  containing  about  400  acres  of  valuable  land, 
where  he  carried  on  an  extensive  business  in  gen- 
eral farming.  As  soon  as  he  had  acquired  suffi- 
cient means,  he  erected  a  pleasant  residence,  with 
excellent,  well  appointed  farm  buildings,  requiring 
so  many  of  the  latter  to  accommodate  the  various 
branches  of  his  extensive  business,  that  his  place 
wore  the  appearance  of  a  small  village. 

Thomas  Jeffris  possessed  remarkable  executive 
ability  and  a  rare  knowledge  of  human  nature.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  in  Kentucky  he  served  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  after  coming  to  Illinois  was 
elected  to  that  office  in  1831.  After  serving  twen- 
ty-seven years,  he  declined  to  hold  that  position 
any  longer,  the  duties  of  which  had  been  arduous. 
At  that  time  Cumberland  and  Douglas  Counties 
were  included  in  Coles  County,  necessarily  throw- 
ing a  large  amount  of  legal  work  within  the  juris- 
diction of  the  latter  place.  In  judicial  affairs  he 
was  always  inclined  to  promote  a  peaceful  solution 
of  vexed  questions,  wherever  such  an  adjustment 
could  be  made,  and  frequently  succeeded  in  effect- 
ing a  reconciliation  between  adverse  parties,  with- 
out resorting  to  a  lawsuit.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  never  allowed  business  engagements 
to  interfere  with  his  attendance  at  the  polls  to  cast 
his  vote. 

Mr.  Jeffris  was  a  member  of  the  Old-School  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  his  daily  life  bore  witness  to  the 
sincerity  of  his  Christian  faith.  For  many  years 
he  was  an  Elder  in  the  Church,  and  no  matter  how 
unfavorable  the  weather,  through  rain  and  snow, 
summer's  heat  and  winter's  cold,  he  was  never 
known  to  be  absent  from  the  service.  He  was 
kind  and  generous  in  his  home,  and  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  his  children,  giving  them  as  good  an 
education  as  it  was  possible  to  obtain  at  that  time, 
and  also  assisting  each  one  to  start  in  life.  After 
a  long  life  of  usefulness,  lie  died  Aug.  4, 1866.  His 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

DIVERSITY  OF  ILUMOIS 


....... 

• 


RESiDENctorA.H  .HUCKABA  ,  DEC./.  (R.10.E.)  CHARLESTON  TOWN  SHIP 


RESIDENCE  orT.  J  .DULL.  S  EC'S  .12  &13.  As  HMO  RE  TOWNSHIP 


RESIDENCE  OF  W-.  MORGAN  ,  SEC. 4.  MORGAN   TOWNSHIP. 


COLES    COUNTY. 


341 


widow  survived  him  a  number  of  years,  her  death 
occurring  in  1875.  They  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  whose  record  is  as  follows :  Sallie  mar- 
ried Blaine  Matthews,  and  after  his  death  became 
the  wife  of  George  Diehl;  George  lived  to  be  sev- 
enteen years  old ;  James  married  Matilda  Johnston, 
and  lives  in  this  township;  Mary,  deceased,  was  the 
first  wife  of  George  Diehl;  Ann  was  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Dornblazer,  but  is  now  deceased ;  Harriet, 
deceased,  was  the  first  wife  of  I.  H.  Johnston ; 
John  married  Mary  F.  Vandeveer;  Isaac,  deceased, 
and  Azariah,  of  this  sketch. 

Azariah  Jeffris  was  a  boy  of  unusual  intelligence, 
possessing  ready  powers  of  observation,  combined 
with  good  judgment.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  received  the  foundation  of  his  education 
at  the  subscription  school,  which  was  the  only  sys- 
tem of  instruction  the  pioneer  days  afforded.  He 
did  not  lay  aside  his  books,  however,  upon  leaving 
school,  but  continued  his  studies,  and  by  close  ap- 
plication acquired  a  practical  business  education. 
March  10,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  Mary 
Hackley.  Mrs.  Jeffris  is  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Susan  (Thomas)  Hackley,  and  was  born  in  Gray- 
son  County,  Ky.,  March  2.  1841.  After  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Jeffris  and  his  wife  commenced  house- 
keeping at  once. 

Our  subject  commenced  business  for  himself 
with  180  acres  of  land,  but  has  increased  his  prop- 
erty until  he  now  owns  a  a  fine  estate  containing 
600  acres.  In  conducting  his  farm  he  gives  special 
attention  to  stock-raising,  and  has  for  several  years 
past  also  been  engaged  in  stock-dealing.  Like  his 
father,  in  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  has 
served  as  Supervisor  and  held  all  the  minor  offices 
of  the  township.  In  1870,  in  recognition  of  his 
superior  ability  in  the  management  of  public  affairs, 
he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  Twenty-seventh 
District  in  the  General  Assembty. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeffris  had  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren— Zavala,  Shelton  and  Laura.  Shelton  died  at 
the  age  of  eighteen,  and  his  death,  just  on  the 
verge  of  manhood,  was  a  crushing  blow  to  his 
parents.  Mrs.  Jeffris  is  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church,  but  Mr.  Jeffris  has  never 
connected  himself  with  any  religious  body  or  secret 


society,  but  is  not  opposed  to  them ;  on  the  con- 
trary he  has  given  liberally  of  his  means  toward 
all  religious  denominations  of  this  community. 


J~~  OSEPH  A.  DAVIS.  The  history  of  this 
worthy  resident  of  Hutton  Township,  al- 
though not  characterized  by  any  thrilling 
'  details,  is  that  of  the  life  of  an  honest  man 
and  a  good  citizen,  who  has  performed  his  part 
worthily  and  established  himself  in  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  is  a  native  of 
Fountain  County,  Ind.,  born  Oct.  2,  1840,  and  is 
the  son  of  Samuel  and  Rachel  (Mitchell)  Davis, 
natives  respectively  of  West  Virginia  and  Ohio. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  after 
his  marriage  located  in  the  Buckeye  State,  where 
two  children  were  born,  and  where  the  mother  died 
five  years  later.  The  two  sons  of  this  union  were 
James,  now  a  resident  of  Kansas,  and  John,  who 
died  in  infancy.  A  few  years  after  the  death  of  his 
wife,  Samuel  Davis  was  again  married,  to  Miss 
Rachel  Colvert.  a  native  of  Somerset  County,  Md., 
and  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Alsey  Colvert,  who 
were  born  in  the  same  State.  Soon  afterward  Mr. 
Davis  went  back  to  Ohio. 

Of  the  second  marriage  of  Samuel  Davis,  there 
were  born  ten  children,  viz.,  Mary,  Minerva,  Rob- 
ert, David,  Emily,  Nancy,  Armanda,  Samuel,  Jo- 
seph and  Alice.  With  the  exception  of  Samuel, 
who  died  young,  all  lived  to  become  men  and 
women.  Samuel  Davis  finally  removed  to  Foun- 
tain County,  Ind.,  and  from  there  in  1850,  to 
Charleston  Township,  this  county,  where  he  carried 
on  farming  some  years,  and  then  removed  to  Cum- 
berland County,  returning  to  this  county  five  years 
later;  he  died  in  Hutton  Township  in  1875.  He 
was  a  man  of  high  moral  principle,  and  while  in 
early  youth  connected  himself  with  the  Methodist 
Church,  later  becoming  an  exhorter.  After  his 
death  Mrs.  Davis  became  the  wife  of  John  Scott, 
and  still  survives. 

Joseph  Davis  received  an  ordinary  education, 
and  was  but  a  youth  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  Rebellion.  He  could  not  then  go  into  the 
army  on  account  of  his  boyish  appearance,  but  was 


f 

T 

j  <  > 


•*•• 


342 


COLES    COUNTY. 


permitted  to  enlist  before  the  close,  which  he  did 
in  March,  1865,  when  nineteen  years  old,  becoming 
a  member  of  Co.  B,  54th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  was  not 
permitted  to  participate  in  any  very  serious  en- 
gagements with  the  enemy,  his  regiment  being  de- 
tailed on  the  railroad  between  Little  Rock  and 
Devall's  Bluff,  and  was  in  a  skirmish  with  Quantrel 
and  the  James  boys.  The  latter  finally  got  away, 
and  the  war  being  then  practically  ended,  young 
Davis  was  mustered  out  a  few  months  later. 

After  becoming  a  civilian  Mr.  Davis  returned  to 
Coles  County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until 
the  spring  of  186f!,  and  on  July  16  following,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Bennett. 
This  lady,  a  native  of  Ohio,  was  born  May  24, 
1849,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Polly 
Bennett,  natives  of  Ohio.  The  young  people  lo- 
cated on  a  tract  of  land  in  Hutton  Township,  where 
our  subject  operated  until  the  spring  of  1885,  then 
going  to  Union  Center,  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  and  is  now  carrying  on  business  for  himself. 
The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis,  eight  in  num- 
ber, are  recorded  as  follows:  Daisy,  born  Dec.  4, 
1867,  died  Jan.  5,  1868;  Sarah  was  born  March  8, 
1869;  Ozetta,  Dec.  5,  1870;  Lyda,  -Dec.  1,  1872; 
Sora,  Oct.  28,  1874;  Joseph,  June  20,  1878;  Eliza- 
beth, May  24,  1879;  Jess,  Feb.  21,  1885.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  Christian  Church,  and  Mr.  Davis  uniformly 
votes  with  the  Republican  party. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  onr  subject,  Walter 
Davis  by  name,  was  a  native  of  France,  and  came 
to  this  country  as  a  soldier  with  Gen.  LaFayette, 
under  whom  he  served  during  the  Revolutionary 
War.  After  the  independence  of  the  Colonies  had 
been  established,  he  located  near  Wheeling,  Va., 
where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  carried  on 
farming.  He  married  Miss  A.  Tracey,  a  native  of 
his  own  country,  who  came  over  with  Count  De 
Gras.  They  became  the  parents  of  fifteen  chil- 
dren, twelve  sons  and  three  daughters,  namely, 
Joseph,  Archibald^  Walter,  Luther,  William,  James, 
David,  Samuel,  John,  Arthur,  Polly  and  two  others. 
Two  bo}rs  died  young.  Joseph  served  under  Gen. 
Harrison  in  the  Indian  War,  and  was  killed  on  the 
Wabash  River  in  Indiana.  Archibald,  a  seafaring 
man,  while  hunting  pirates,  was  captured  by  the 


Turks,  and  held  a  prisoner  twelve  months.     After 
escaping  he  returned  to  the  United  States  and  lo- 

i   cated  in  Virginia,  where  he  died. 

Grandfather  Davis  finally  left  Virginia  and  emi- 
grated to  Ohio,  settling  near  Chillicothe,  where  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  became  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  in  that  region.  His  death 
took  place  there  in  1858,  His  wife  survived  a  few 

i   years,  and  died  upon  the  old  homestead.    Both  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


MINOR,  a  successful  fanner  and 
stock-grower  of  East  Oakland  Township, 
owns  and  occupies  a  fine  homestead  on 
section  8,  which  possesses  all  the  requirements  of  a 
first-class  country  estate.  He  has  been  a  resident 
of  Illinois  since  1832,  when  he  was  a  boy  fourteen 
years  of  age,  and  since  that  time  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  agricultural  and  business 
interests  of  Coles  County. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio, 
Aug.  16,  1818,  and  is  the  son  of  Ephraim  and 
Rachel  (Lamb)  Minor,  natives  respectively  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Maryland.  Ephraim  Minor  was  born  in 
1775,  and  died  at  his  homestead  in  Douglas  County, 
in  1835,  when  about  sixty  years  of  age.  He  re- 
moved from  the  Old  Dominion  to  Kentucky  in 
early  manhood,  and  was  variously  employed  until 
his  marriage  in  1797.  He  continued  in  Kentucky 
ten  years  afterward,  and  then  migrated  with  his 
family  to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased 
100  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land  and  proceeded 
to  build  up  a  homestead  in  the  wilderness.  In  this 
he  succeeded  admirably,  clearing  a  fine  and  fertile 
farm  which,  however,  he  sold,  and  then  went  to 
flat-boating  on  the  river  to  New  Orleans.  He 
followed  this  occupation  for  two  years,  making 
considerable  money  and  being  quite  prosperous 
until  upon  his  last  trip.  While  on  the  steamer 
between  New  Orleans  and  Natchez  on  his  return 
home,  his  money,  $1,800,  was  stolen  from  him,  and 
this  ended  his  river  operations.  In  1832  he  came 
with  his  family  down  the  Wabash  to  Darwin,  thence 
to  this  county,  where  he  purchased  100  acres  of  wild 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


343 


land  and  followed  farming  until  unfitted  for  active 
labor.  Bfith  parents  were  members  of  the  Christian 
Church./  The  mother  was  born  in  1781,  and  died 
at  the  Uomestead  in  Coles  (now  Douglas)  County 
in  18£4.  She  was  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Sarah  (Wood)  Lamb,  her  father  being  the  first  man 
elected  to  the  Legislature  from  Mason  County, 
Ky.,  and  in  which  he  served  for  many  years. 

Our  subject  remained  with  his  parents  during 
his  childhood  and  youth,  in  the  meantime  receiv- 
ing a  good  common-school  education,  and  after  the 
death  of  his  father  assisting  his  mother  in  the 
management  of  the  homestead.  Upon  setting  out 
for  himself  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Powers, 
Nov.  25,  1847.  Mrs.  M.  was  born  near  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  Aug.  30,  1830,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Daniel 
D.  and  Maria  (Runnels)  Powers.  She  departed 
this  life  at  the  home  of  her  husband  in  East  Oak- 
land Township,  March  30,  1884.  She  was  a  lady 
of  deep  piety,  greatly  beloved  by  her  family  and 
friends.  Her  kindness  of  heart  and  amiable  char- 
acter endeared  her  to  all  with  whom  she  associated, 
and  she  is  greatly  missed  and  mourned  by  those 
who  knew  her  best.  She  left  one  child,  a  son, 
George  A.,  who  was  born  in  April,  1849.  He 
married  Miss  Malinda  Willison,  and  is  a  resident 
of  this  county. 

The  farm  of  Mr.  Minor  includes  200  acres  of 
valuable  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
He  has  been  prominent  in  local  affairs  and  has  held 
the  various  township  offices,  being  elected  Super- 
visor in  1869-70,  and  acting  as  Chairman  of  many 
important  committees.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch 
Democrat. 


P~  RANCIS  M.  McCARTNEY  is  Postmaster, 
and  proprietor  of  the  largest  drug-store  at 
Lerna,  Pleasant  Grove  Township.  He  was 
born  Jan.  5, 1847,  in  Cumberland  County,  111.,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  and  Susan  (Powell)  McCartney.  He 
is  of  Scotch  and  Irish  extraction,  from  which 
nationalities  many  of  the  most  enterprising  and 
successful  citizens  of  Illinois  have  descended.  His 
paternal  grandparents,  Jacob  and  Sarah  McCartney, 
were  natives  of  Ireland.  Soon  after  their  marriage 
in  that  country  they  emigrated  to  the  United 


States  and  settled  in  Virginia.  His  maternal 
grandparents,  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Powell,  were 
natives  of  Scotland,  and  upon  their  arrival  in  this 
country  likewise  settled  in  Virginia. 

When  John  McCartney  was  eighteen  3rears  of i 
age,  his  father's  family  left  their  home  in  Virginia 
and  moved  to  Ohio,  whither  he  accompanied  them. 
In  1831  he  resolved  to  push  still  farther  westward, 
and  consequently  moved  to  Illinois,  which  State 
was  at  that  time  attracting  many  settlers  from  the 
East.  He  settled  in  Cumberland  County,  making 
his  permanent  home  there,  and  passed  the  evening 
of  life  at  his  old  home  in  that  county,  of  which  he 
had  been  a  citizen  for  half  a  century,  dying  on 
the  14th  of  August,  1887.  He  was  born  in  1804, 
and  had  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three 
years.  The  wife  who  shared  with  him  the  trials 
and  privations  of  pioneer  life,  died  Feb.  1(>,  1883, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven.  A  family  of  seven 
children  was  born  to  them,  all  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity.  Their  record  is  as  follows :  Elizabeth, 
the  wife  of  Bennet  Cline;  Jacob;  Peter,  deceased; 
George;  Nancy,  the  wife  of  Ira  Parker;  John  W. 
and  Francis  M. 

Francis  M.  McCartney  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  received  a  good  common-school  educa- 

.  tion.  He  possessed  an  unusual  degree  of  intelli- 
gence and  made  the  best  use  of  his  limited 
advantages.  In  1867  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Celeste  Floatonett  Swingle.  Mrs.  McCartney  is 
the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Welver)  Swin- 
gle, and  was  born  in  Bartholomew  County,  Ind., 
Oct.  23,  1859.  Mr.  McCartney,  being  of  a  studi- 
ous and  reflective  mind,  was  not  inclined  to  engage 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  accordingly  after  his 
marriage  purchased  stock  and  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  at  Neoga,  in  the  meantime  educating  him- 
self in  pharmacy.  He  was  successful  in  his  enter- 
prise, and  remained  at  Neoga  until  Feb.  2y,  1886, 
when  he  moved  to  Lerna,  and  established  his  pres- 

|  ent  business.  He  carries  a  fine  stock  of  drugs, 
paints,  oils,  and  druggists'  sundries,  and  although 
a  recent  citizen  ol  the  place,  is  carrying  on  a  suc- 
cessful trade. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCartney  have  three  children — 
Lura  Idola,   Sidney  Erburt  and   Oscar   Theodore. 

;   Mr.  McCartney  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  re- 


f 


"7 

[•  '    344 


COLES   COUNTY. 


.t 

T 


ceived  his  appointment  as  Postmaster,  Sept.  20, 
1886.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  his 
wife  and  himself  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 


<if  OHN  B.  TURNEY  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
estate  containing  120  acres  of  land  in  Lafay- 
ette Township,  and  represents  one  of  the 
old  pioneer  families,  their  residence  dating 
from  Oct.  1,  1834.  He  was  born  June  18,  1834, 
in  Harrison  Count}',  Ky.,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Jones)  Turney,  also  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky, the  former  born  about  1795  in  Bourbon 
County,  and  the  latter  April  5,  1800,  in  Harrison 
County.  The  family  removed  to  Illinois  in  the 
autumn  of  1834,  bravely  facing  the  perils  and  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  life.  Cold  weather  was  rapidly 
approaching,  and  the  first  necessity  being  to  provide 
shelter  for  his  family  from  the  rude  blasts  of  win- 
ter, as  well  as  protection  from  the  wild  animals, 
which  roamed  at  will  over  the  broad  and  desolate 
prairies.  Mi1.  Turney  purchased  400  acres  of  land 
and  erected  their  primitive  dwelling.  The  success- 
ful close  of  the  Black  Hawk  War  two  years  previ- 
ous having  been  followed  by  a  great  increase  in 
the  number  of  settlers  from  the  East,  confidence 
was  restored,  and  the  early  dawn  of  the  future 
prosperity  of  Illinois  had  begun  to  gild  the  hori/on. 
Mr.  Turney  cultivated  and  improved  his  land, 
and  aided  by  the  housewifely  thrift  of  his  wife, 
made  a  comfortable  home  for  his  family  in  the  heart 
of  the  wilderness.  He  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life  here,  and  died  Oct.  15,  1851.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  many  years,  her  death  occurring  May 
22,  1870.  Their  family  consisted  of  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Their  names 
are,  Benjamin  D.,  Sarah  A. ;  Susan,  deceased ;  Daniel 
M. ;  Nancy  V.,  deceased;  Louisa  M.;  William  J., 
Franklin  J.,  John  B.  and  Thomas  G.  are  also  de- 
ceased. Sarah  is  now  Mrs.  Fisher;  Susan  M.  was 
the  wife  of  Hiram  Cox,  and  Louisa  M.  is  now  Mrs. 
W.  L.  Hayden. 

John  B.  Turney  was  an  infant  when  his  parents 
came  to  this  State,  and  he  grew  up  under  all  the 
educational  disadvantages  of  pioneer  life.  How- 
ever, he  attended  the  district  schools  in  his  boy- 


hood, and  acquired  all  the  education  possible  from 
those  primitive  halls  of  learning.  As  soon  as  he 
was  old  enough,  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  various 
branches  of  farm  labor,  burning  brush,  rolling  logs, 
hunting  wolves,  and  many  other  pursuits  in  which 
a  bright  and  active  boy  finds  amusement  as  well  as 
work. 

In  1855  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
1).  Jones,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Lucy  Jones.  Their  married  life 
was  of  brief  duration,  for  her  death  occurred  the 
following  j-ear,  in  this  State.  On  the  1 3th  of  De- 
cember, 1859,  Mr.  Turney  married  Miss  Cyrena 
A.  Wible.  His  second  wife  was  the  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Hannah  Wible,  and  was  born  in  In- 
diana. Feb.  23,  1865,  his  home  was  again  invaded 
by  death,  his  beloved  wife  being  taken,  leaving 
the  household  desolate,  and  his  three  children 
motherless.  The  names  of  the  latter  were,  John 
F.,  Mary  E.  and  Charles,  all  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Turney's  third  marriage  took  place  Jan. 
6.  1876.  Mrs.  Tnrney  is  the  daughter  of  James  H. 
and  Caroline  Sawin.  Her  parents  were  residents  of 
Indiana,  where  their  daughter,  Caroline,  Mrs.  Tur- 
ney, was  born  July  31,  1846,  in  Bartholomew 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turney  had  a  family  of 
five  children  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are  now 
living — Clara  A.,  Harvey  and  George  W.  Since 
his  marriage  Mr.  Turney  has  given  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  with  his  wife,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Old-School  Baptist  Church.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican. 


I  MOS  RICE,  deceased,  formerly  a  prominent 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  North  Okaw 
Township,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
Northwest,  and  an  early  settler  of  this 
county.  He  was  born  Oct.  15,  1787,  in  New  York 
State  and  was  the  sou  of  Abraham  Rice.  His 
parents  were  likewise  natives  of  New  York,  and 
his  father  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Amos 
Rice  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he 
|ia>scd  his  youth  and  early  manhood  and  to  which 
he  was  much  attached.  He  was  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  was  Mrs.  Martha  (Hatton)  Davies, 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


345 


and  by  this  marriage  three  children  were  born — 
Catherine,  Mary  Jane  and  Frank.  Mrs.  Rice's 
death  occurred  soon  after  the  death  of  her  young- 
est child,  and  in  later  years,  Mr.  Rice  was  married 
to  Miss  .Sarah  Compton.  Mrs.  Rice  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Lucinda  Compton.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Ohio,  where  their  daughter  Sarah 
was  born.  Her  father  served  in  the  Black  Hawk 
War  in  the  early  days. 

Mr.  Rice  emigrated  to  Indiana  in  1H10,  where  he 
settled  in  Vigo  County,  and  aided  in  laying  out  the 
city  of  Terre  Haute.  He  purchased  land  there, 
and  was  engaged  both  in  farming  and  boating, 
during  his  residence  making  fifty-two  trips  on  flat- 
boats  from  Terre  Haute  to  New  Orleans,  and  also 
serving  as  a  pilot  on  the  river.  In  the  War  of 
1812  he  was  engaged  under  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson 
in  the  defense  of  New  Orleans,  and  immediately 
after  his  discharge  from  the  service,  settled  in  Terre 
Haute  where  he  remained  until  1852.  He  then 
removed  to  Illinois,  where  he  purchased  land  of 
the  railroad  company  and  settled  in  Coles  County, 
making  his  permanent  home  here.  During  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  he  carried  on  a  successful  busi- 
ness in  farming  and  stock-raising. 

The  early  settlements  in  the  county  were  made 
almost  entirety  along  the  borders  of  the  timber,  and 
for  some  time  it  was  not  supposed  that  the  prairies 
could  be  utilized  for  farming  purposes;  the  grass 
and  weeds  by  which  they  were  overgrown  were  so 
rank  and  tall  that  the  prospects  of  their  ever  fur- 
nishing rich  pasturage  for  flocks  and  herds,  or  wav- 
ing with  harvests  of  golden  grain,  was  something 
scarcely  dreamed  of.  Deer,  wolves  and  wild  game 
abounded,  and  during  the  summer  season,  the 
prairie  fires  were  extremely  troublesome.  When 
Mr.  Rice  arrived,  there  was  not  a  single  dwelling 
on  the  site  of  the  city  of  Mattoon,  and  he  saw  the 
first  house  placed  there,  which  was  an  old  building 
moved  in.  The  wild  game  provided  an  abundant 
supply  of  meat  for  the  settlers,  but  the  wolves  were 
troublesome,  and  often  made  the  night  hideous 
with  their  bowlings,  besides  carrying  off  chickens, 
young  lambs  and  pigs. 

By  his  last  marriage  Mr.  Rice  had  a  family  of 
ten  children — Abram,  William,  Nancy  L.,  John, 
Amos,  Job  C.,  Sarah,  Eliza,  Arthur  and  Walter; 


four  now  deceased.  Three  brothers  and  one  sister 
reside  in  this  county,  and  also  one  half-sister,  but 
the  family  have  been  scattered  by  business  interests, 
and  another  brother  and  sister  are  residents  of 
Kansas. 

Mr.  Rice  was  actively  interested  in  public  affairs, 
and  was  ever  ready  to  promote  all  measures  tend- 
ing to  advance  the  political  and  social  welfare  of 
the  community.  He  never  sought  political  pre- 
ferment, but  occasionally  served  in  the  local 
Offices,  always  giving  satisfaction  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties.  In  politics  he  was  throughout  life 
an  old-school  Jacksonian  Democrat.  lie  was  a 
member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 

Mr.  Rice  lived  to  see  the  flourishing  city  of 
Mattoon  spring  up  as  if  by  magic  on  the  site  where 
the  lonely  old  house  had  stood  in  the  early  days, 
and  the  prairie  grass  that  seemed  almost  unconquer- 
able, give  place  to  fertile  fields  of  wheat  and  com. 
After  a  long  and  useful  life  his  death  occurred 
Aug.  10,  1872,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  j'ears. 


,,.,,  J.  FINN  ELL,  a  retired  farmer,  and  a 
(@/L]||  prominent  resident  of  Charleston,  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  the  Blue 
Grass  regions,  his  birth  taking  place  in 
Old  ham  County,  Ky.,  Jan.  14,  1821.  He  is  the  son 
of  Edward  and  Nancy  (Ross)  Pinnell,  the  former 
a  native  of  Culpeper  County,  Va.,  and  the  mother 
born  in  the  same  county  as  our  subject.  The  birth 
of  Edward  Pinnell  took  place  March  23,  1795,  and 
his  youth  and  boyhood  were  passed  amid  the  stern 
scenes  of  conflict  with  the  mother  country,  himself 
engaged  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  receiving  after- 
ward for  his  services  a  pension  for  the  balance  of 
his  life.  He  was  but  twenty-one  years  of  age  when 
he  became  a  resident  of  Kentucky,  and  engaged 
there  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  the  fall  of  1830. 
He  had  in  the  meantime  been  married,  and  at  this 
date  determining  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  West, 
came  to  Edgar  County,  and  commenced  farming 
on  260  acres  in  Kansas  Township.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  energy,  and  at  the  same  time  established  a 
store  of  general  merchandise  in  connection  with  his 
farm. 

Through  his  own  efforts  Edward  Pinnell  had  be- 


•4 


-I 


346 


COLES   COUNTY. 


come  fairly  well  educated,  and  his  deep  piety  con- 
strained him  to  devote  a  part  of  his  time  to  the 
spread  of  the  Gospel.  He  commenced  preaching 
in  the  Christian  Church  in  1832,  and  for  a  series  of 
years  rode  through  Edgar,  Coles  and  Clark  Coun- 
ties, establishing  societies,  building  up  the  faint- 
hearted, and  in  every  sense  of  the  word  "  doing 
good  as  he  had  opportunity."  His  influence  was 
also  exerted  in  the  establishment  and  maintenance 
of  schools,  and  every  other  measure  which  had  for 
its  object  the  moral  and  intellectual  welfare  of  the 
people.  These  traits  he  had  inherited  in  a  large 
measure  from  his  father,  John  Pinnell,  who  de- 
scended from  substantial  Scotch  ancestry,  and  who 
settled  in  Virginia  at  an  early  day,  where  John 
Pinnell  was  born  and  reared  his  family. 

The  children  of  Edward  ami  Nancy  Pinnell  were 
five  in  number,  three  only  now  living,  viz.:  An- 
drew J.,  of  our  sketch;  Rachel  M.,  the  wife  of  J.  K. 
Boyer,  of  Kansas,  111.,  and  Margaret  M.,  Mrs.  T. 
Atkins,  of  Dakota.  The  mother  departed  this  life 
at  the  homestead  in  Edgar  County,  Nov.  19,  1864. 
Mr.  P.  survived  his  wife  several  years,  dying  March 
16,  1879. 

Our  subject  came  with  his  parents  to  Edgar 
County,  111.,  when  a  boy  nine  years  of  age,  and 
continued  on  the  farm  until  reaching  his  majority. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  pursued  his  primary  stud- 
ies in  the  common  schools,  and  later  returned  to  his 
native  county,  where,  after  a  thorough  course  in 
the  school  near  Brownsboro,  Ky.,  he  graduated  in 
the  common  branches,  and  commenced  teaching 
when  nineteen  years  of  age.  Later  he  returned  to 
Kansas  Township,  and  followed  teaching  there  for 
a  year,  after  which  he  resumed  farming  with  his 
father,  receiving  for  his  labors  a  part  of  the  pro- 
ceeds. Four  years  afterward  he  invested  his  sav- 
ings in  eighty  acres  of  good  land  in  Ashmore 
Township,  this  county,  upon  which  he  effected  good 
improvements  and  occupied  five  years.  Then,  de- 
ciding to  change  his  location  he  sold  out,  aban- 
doned farming  for  the  time,  and  engaged  as  clerk 
in  the  dry-goods  store  of  J.  K.  and  W.  F.  Boyer, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1862. 

Resolving  now  to  try  country  life  once  more  Mr. 
Pinnell  purchased  a  quarter  section  of  land  in 
Hickory  Township,  of  which  he  took  possession, 


and  to  which  in  due  time  he  added  125  acres,  de- 
voting the  whole  to  the  raising  of  grain  and  stock. 
He  retained  possession  of  this  farm  until  the  fall  of 
1865,  then  sold  out  and  purchased  220  acres  in 
Charleston  Township,  two  miles  east  of  the  city. 
After  occupying  this  several  years,  and  instituting 
good  improvements,  he  engaged  in  merchandising, 
first  as  a  clerk  in  Charleston,  then  on  his  own  account, 
in  connection  with  others,  in  Kansas,  Edgar  County, 
his  stock  consisting  of  hardware  and  agricultural 
implements,  in  which  he  built  up  a  good  trade  and 
continued  four  years.  He  did  not,  however,  feel 
entirely  at  ease  until  he  once  more  came  in  posses- 
sion of  real  estate  in  the  country,  and  accordingly 
purchased  back  the  old  farm  in  Charleston  Town- 
ship, upon  which  he  moved,  and  which  he  occupied 
until  1883.  The  flight  of  years  had  now  admon- 
ished him  that  it  was  time  to  rest,  and,  as  much  per- 
haps through  the  influence  of  friends  as  his  own  in- 
clinations, he  rented  his  farm,  purchased  a  fine 
house  in  Charleston,  and  repaired  thither,  where  he 
has  since  remained.  Adjoining  his  properly  were 
two  desirable  houses  and  lots,  of  which  he  has  se- 
cured possession,  and  from  the  rents  of  which  he 
realizes  a  good  income. 

•  The  lady  who  has  presided  over  the  houshold 
affairs  of  our  subject,  and  been  his  closest  friend 
and  counselor  for  a  period  of  over  thirty  years,  was 
formerly  Miss  Eliza  A.,  the  daughter  of  John  Poul- 
ter,  who  located  in  Edgar  County  in  1830.  Mr. 
P.  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  Ky.,  and  passed 
his  youth  and  boyhood  in  the  Blue  Grass  regions, 
where  he  married,  and  whence  he  came  with  his 
young  wife  to  this  State.  Of  the  nine  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pinnell  only  two  survive:  James 
H.  married  Miss  Ella  H.  Clement,  of  White  Hall, 
Greene  Co.,  111.,  and  is  farming  in  Charleston  Town- 
ship; they  have  four  children — Lulu,  Mary,  Otto 
and  George.  Winfleld  S.  married  Miss  Sarah  H. 
Whitney,  of  Charleston,  and  is  engaged  in  the 
hardware  and  agricultural  implement  trade  in  Kan- 
sas, Edgar  County ;  their  three  children  are  named 
respectively  Flavie,  Frederick  and  Bessie. 

While  a  resident  of  Hickory  Grove  Township 
Mr.  Piunell  represented  his  fellow-citizens  on  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  served  as  School 
Treasurer.  Since  becoming  a  resident  of  Charles- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


347 


ton  he  has  officiated  as  Assessor;  he  was  Township 
Trustee  while  in  Kansas.  Both  he  and  his  estima- 
ble wife  are  members  in  good  standing  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  Mr.  P.  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Kansas,  and  in  all  respects  has 
distinguished  himself  as  one  of  the  industrious  and 
enterprising  citizens  to  whom  Coles  County  is  in- 
debted for  its  growth  and  prosperity. 


NDREW  A.  HONN  is  a  substantial  farmer 
residing  on  section  31.  Seven  Hickory 
Township,  his  farm  comprising  eighty  acres. 
He  was  born  Feb.  12,  1852,  in  Nicholas 
County,  Ky.,  and  is  the  son  of  Absalom  and  Mi- 
randa (Moler)  Honn.  His  parents,  who  were  na. 
tives  of  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  came  to  Illinois  in 
1858,  and  in  1861  settled  in  Coles  County,  where 
they  now  reside.  The  following  is  the  record  of 
their  family:  Peter  D.  married  Miss  M.  Snyder, 
and  has  a  family  of  three  children ;  he  resides  in 
Mattoon,  111.  Isaac  F.  married  Miss  Cornelia 
Wright;  he  resides  in  Coles  County,  and  has  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children.  John  D.  married  Miss  Zarilda 
Gibbs;  he  resides  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  and 
has  a  family  of  three  children.  Mary  J.  was  twice 
married,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  William  Lewis,  a 
resident  of  Moultrie  County,  111. ;  by  her  first  mar- 
riage she  became  the  mother  of  three  children 
Joseph  resides  at  the  homestead,  and  Andrew  A. 
our  subject.  There  were  four  deceased. 

Andrew  A.  Honn  resided  at  the  homestead  and 
assisted  his  father  in  conducting  the  farm  until  he 
was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Maliala  J.  Kerns,  Oct.  22,  1874,  at  Ashmore, 
and  he  then  began  the  world  for  himself.  Mrs. 
Houn  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  T.  and  Angelina 
(Mills)  Kerns,  natives  of  North  Carolina.  Their 
family  consisted  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living,  as  follows:  Mary  E.  was  twice  married,  her 
present  husband  being  Mr.  Flemming,  and  by  this 
marriage  she  is  the  mother  of  seven  children,  and 
resides  in  Oswego,  Kan. ;  Elizabeth  J.,  the  wife  of 
Ezra  Whipple,  a  resident  of  this  count}',  is  the  mother 
of  two  children;  Loretta  J.,  the  wife  of  Joseph 


Davis,  a  resident  of  this  county,  is  the  mother  of 
six  children;  Mahala  J. ;  James  W.  is  married 
and  resides  in  Minnesota;  his  family  consists  of  five 
children.  Ella  J.  was  twice  married,  her  present 
husband  being  Mr.  Hann,  a  native  of  Germany; 
she  has  one  child  by  her  first  marriage,  and  they 
reside  in  Kansas. 

Our  subject  and  wife  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children:  Maranda  A.,  horn  Oct.  26,  1875; 
Hattie  May,  March  5,  1877;  Sarah  E.,  Sept.  12, 
1878;  Mary,  May  7,  1880;  Absalom  J.  Aug.  16, 
1882:  Andrew  Lee,  Jan.  3,  1884,  and  William  P., 
Aug.  14,  1886.  Mr.  Honn  purchased  the  land 
where  he  now  resides  Nov.  1,  1880,  and  took  pos- 
session of  the  place  with  his  family  in  the  following 
year,  and  has  since  carried  on  a  successful  business 
in  farming  there.  With  his  wife  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church.  In  politics  he  always 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party. 

-i «§**-     -v- 


R.    SAMUEL    D.    GARDNER,    who    for 

many  years  has  been  farmer  and  physician 
combined,  and  in  each  department  more 
than  ordinarily  successful,  first  opened  his 
eyes  to  the  light  near  Bowling  Green,  Warren  Co., 
Ky.,  on  the  27th  of  March,  1822.  He  is  the  sec- 
ond child  of  Asa  B.  and  Amelia  (Bowles)  Gardner, 
natives  of  Virginia.  His  paternal  grandparents 
were  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Ford)  Gardner,  also  na- 
tives of  the  Old  Dominion.  The  parents  of  his 
mother  died  when  he  was  a  child.  The  Gardner 
family,  as  well  as  the  Fords,  were  of  Scotch- Irish 
ancestry,  and  located  in  Kentucky  during  an  early 
period  in  its  history.  Asa  B.  Gardner  occupied  a 
farm  in  Warren  County,  and  was  engaged  mostly 
in  raising  tobacco.  The  mother  died  in  1843,  and 
the  father,  after  his  second  marriage,  lived  to  a 
good  old  age,  passing  away  in  1877. 

The  subject  of  this  history  pursued  his  early 
studies  in  a  log  school-house  in  his  native  county, 
and  began  teaching  when  eighteen  years  of  age. 
This,  however,  he  followed  only  a  short  time,  but 
afterward  clerked  in  a  dry-goods  store.  When 
twenty-six  years  of  age  he  began  the  study  of 


i  .    348 


COLES    COUNTY. 


1 


medicine  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  John  Austin, 
of  Morgantown,  with  whom  he  remained  three 
years,  and  subsequently  entered  the  office  of  Dr. 
Withers  at  Dripping  Springs,  about  seven  miles 
from  the  Mammoth  Cave.  Here  he  commenced 
practice,  and  a  year  later,  in  1 853,  came  to  Illinois. 
He  located  first  in  Paradise  Township,  where  he 
taught  school  and  practiced  medicine,  and  also 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Clarke, 
to  whom  he  was  married  in  July,  1855.  This  lady- 
is  the  widow  of  Willis  H.  Clarke,  and  the  daughter 
of  Dr.  John  and  Sydney  (Hanson)  Apperson,  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  They  lived  for  two  years  fol- 
lowing in  Paradise  Township,  near  the  limits  of  the 
town,  where  the  Doctor  had  secured  possession  of 
:i  snug  home,  and  where  he  taught  school  when  the 
community  was  healthy,  and  practiced  medicine 
in  the  sick  season.  In  1857  Dr.  Gardner,  desirous 
of  changing  his  location,  purchased  1 44  acres  of 
improved  land  in  Mattoon  Township  while  it  was 
inhabited  principally  by  wolves  and  other  wild  ani- 
mals. .  This  purchase  was  brought  about  on  the 
occasion  of  a  hunting  expedition,  which  led  him 
into  that  section  and  which  has  remained  his  resi- 
dence until  the  present. 

During  the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  Dr. 
Gardner  was  anxious  to  distinguish  himself  as  a 
Federal  soldier,  but  on  account  of  the  loss  of  an 
eye  occasioned  by  the  bursting  of  his  gun  in  a  deer 
hunt  during  his  visit  to  his  home  in  1845,  he  was  of 
course  rejected.  He  has  now  almost  entirely  given 
up  his  practice,  and  confines  himself  to  superin- 
tending the  labors  of  his  farm,  where  he  raises 
roadster  horses,  of  Lexington  and  Eclipse  blood. 

Dr.  Gardner,  "upon  first  beginning  to  exercise  the 
right  of  suffrage,  voted  with  the  old-line  Whigs, 
but  upon  the  abandonment  of  that  party  cast  his 
lot  with  the  Democrats.  In  former  years  he  was 
connected  with  the  Baptist  Church,  but  there  be- 
ing no  church  of  that  denomination  in  this  locality, 
is  not  identified  with  any  religious  denomination. 
Mrs.  Gardner  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  They  became  the  parents  of  five  children, 
three  now  living,  namely,  John  Asa,  Harry  and 
Margaret.  The  Doctor _has  been  a  man  of  note  in 
his  community,  and  one  interested  in  the  moral 
and  intellectual  welfare  of  its  people.  He  has 


served  as  Road  Commissioner  and  School  Director, 
and  while  in  his  native  State  was  Circuit  Clerk 
and  Deputy  County  Clerk. 


MOS  RICE,  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock- 
grower,  resides  on  the  old  Rice  homestead, 
located  on  section  22,  North  Okaw  Town- 
ship.  He  was  born  in  Vigo  County,  Ind., 
and  is  the  son  of  Amos  and  Sarah  (Compton)  Rice. 
(For  history  of  parents  see  sketch  of  Amos  Rice.) 
Our  subject  passed  his  early  life  at  home,  where  he 
was  associated  with  his  father  and  brother  in  con- 
ducting the  farm,  each  receiving  one-third  of  the 
profits.  One  of  the  strong  characteristics  of  the 
family  is  their  attachment  to  home  ties  and  home 
interests,  and  Amos  Rice  never  worked  away  from 
home  at  any  period  of  his  life,  living  on  the  home- 
stead at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  He  then 
divided  the  land  and  stock  with  his  brother,  and  the 
old  homestead  fell  to  his  lot.  It  includes  240  acres 
of  improved  land  and  twelve  acres  of  timber  in  the 
vicinity. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  Amos  Rice  was 
married,  Dec.  24,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah  C.  Checkley, 
the  sister  of  his  brother's  wife.  Of  this  union 
there  are  five  children,  all  of  whom  reside  at  home. 
Their  names  are,  Lucinda  Isabell,  William  G.,  Sarah 
C.,  Clara  Josephine  and  Jennie  Letitia.  Mr.  Rice 
is  strongly  attached  to  the  old  homestead,  and  car- 
ries on  a  successful  business  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  there,  giving  special  attention  to  graded 
Short-horn  cattle,  Norman  horses,  and  Poland  hogs. 
In  politics  Mr.  Rice  is  a  Democrat  of  the  Old 
Jacksonian  school.  He  never  seeks  official  prefer- 
ment but  is  interested  in  educational  affairs,  and 
serves  as  School  Director  most  of  the  time. 


ALPH  JEFFRIS,  a  resident  of  Pleasant 
Grove,  is  one  of  the  rising  young  men  of 
Coles  County,  and  the  sou  of  one  of  its 
i  pioneers.  He  was  born  Jan.  30,  1860,  in 
Coles  County,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Vandeveer)  Jeffris.  John  Jeffris  was  born  in 
Coles  County,  Jan.  6,  1831,  and  is  the  son  of 


^^^ 


COLES   COUNTY. 


351 


Thomas  and  Patsey  (Shelton)  Jeffris.  He  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm,  enjoying  such  privileges 
as  the  pioneer  days  offered,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1859,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Van- 
deveer.  She  was  born  March  1,  1836,  in  Orange 
County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Lovel  and 
Mary  Yandeveer. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Jeffris  settled  on  the 
place  where  he  now  resides,  on  section  10,  Pleasant 
Grove  Township.  His  estate  contains  over  320 
acres  of  valuable  land  all  of  which  is  well  improved. 
He  carries  on  an  extensive  farming  business,  giving 
special  attention  to  stock-raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Jeffris  have  a  family  of  five  children :  Ralph ; 
Bell,  the  wife  of  William  Walker;  Herschel,  Isaac 
and  Abbie;  Isaac  married  Miss  Alice  McCartney, 
and  lives  in  Kansas.  Mr.  Jeffris  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  has  served  as  School  Director. 

Ralph  Jeffris  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  at 
home,  receiving  in  the  meantime,  an  excellent  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools  and  at  Lee's  Academy. 
Jan.  17,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  E. 
Anderson.  She  is  the  daughter  of  James  and  Lu- 
cinda  Anderson,  and  was  born  in  Coles  County, 
Jan.  28,  1863.  After  his  marriage,  he  located  on 
section  15,  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  where  he  now 
resides.  His  estate  contains  100  acres  of  valu- 
able land. 

Mr.  Jeffris  is  an  active,  enterprising  young  man, 
being  interested  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  com- 
munity, and  has  already  served  as  Supervisor,  Col- 
lector and  School  Treasurer.  His  wife  and  himself 
are  both  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church.  They  have  two  beautiful  children — Stella 
and  Roscoe.  In  politics,  Mr.  J.  is  a  Republican. 


W.  PHILHOWER,  a  member  of  the  firm 
f/U\\  of  D.  N.  Harwood,  Son  &  Co.,  dealers  in 
hay  and  seeds,  is  one  of  the  substantial 
business  men  of  Mattoon.  He  was  born 
October  17,  1836,  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio, 
and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Lucinda  (Snj'der) 
Philhower,  the  former  a  native  of  Hunterdon 
County,  N.  J.,  and  the  latter  of  Seneca  County,  N. 
Y.  His  great-grandfather,  Adam  Philhower,  in 


about  the  year  1745,  at  twelve  years  of  age  accom- 
panied an  elder  brother  to  America,  running  away 
from  his  home  and  parents  in  Germany,  to  encoun- 
ter an  adventurous  life  in  the  New  World.  He  set- 
tled in  New  Jersey,  where  he  married,  and  sub- 
sequently, with  his  son  John,  eighteen  years  of  age, 
served  seven  years  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  un- 
der Gen.  Washington,  and  during  the  entire  period 
of  his  service  never  received  the  slightest  wound. 
After  passing  through  many  adventures  and  vicissi- 
tudes in  Colonial  life  he  died  in  New  Jersey.  His 
son,  Jacob,  emigrated  to  Clermont  County,  Ohio, 
iu  1815,  accompanied  by  hiswif^and  eight  chil- 
dren. They  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
that  county,  engaged  in  farming. 

William  Philhower  made  the  journey  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents,  and  passed  his  early  life  on  his 
father's  farm,  assisting  in  the  farm  labor,  and  re- 
ceiving a  common-school  aducation.  He  was  born 
April  16,  1811,  and  his  wife  was  born  April  11,  of 
the  same  year.  His  marriage  occurred  in  1830,  at 
Clermont.  He  carried  on  an  extensive  farming 
business  there,  owning  100  acres  and  also  renting 
additional  land.  In  1854  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Richland  County,  111.,  and  there  purchased 
476  acres  of  land.  His  death  occurred  two  years 
later,  while  on  a  visit  to  the  old  home  and  friends 
in  Ohio.  His  widow  survived  until  in  April,  1882, 
when  her  death  occurred. 

There  were  fourteen  children  in  the  parental 
family,  ten  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  and.  of. 
whom  the  following  is  a  record  :  Paulina,  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Finn,  of  Richland  County,  111. ;  Eliza,  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Hiskey,  a  resident  of  Gibson  County, 
Ind.;  Sarah  J.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Baldwin,  a  resident 
of  Greene  County,  Mo. ;  A.  W.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Turney,  a  resi- 
dent of  Clinton  County,  Ohio;  Catherine,  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Clark,  a  resident  of  Gibson  County,  Ind.; 
Jacob  W.,  a  resident  of  Shelby  County,  111.;  Dewy 
M.,  a  resident  of  Pekiu,  111. 

A.  W.  Philhower  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  remained,  receiving  a  practical  education 
and  assisting  in  the  various  departments  of  farm 
labor,  until  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  railroading  in  Illinois,  Missouri,  Kansas 
and  Iowa,  being  employed  in  the  construction 


de-   T 

*=f 


352 


COLES   COUNTY. 


partment.  He  was  also  contractor  for  laying  sixty 
miles  of  railroad,  which  is  now  a  part  of  the  W.i- 
bash  road.  He  was  occupied  in  this  business  four- 
teen years,  and  then  for  eight  years  was  proprietor 
of  a  hotel  in  Windsor,  Shelby  County.  During  the 
latter  part  of  his  residence  in  Windsor,  Mr.  Phil- 
hower  was  engaged  in  the  hay  business.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Mattoon  and  formed  his  present  partner- 
ship. The  capacity  of  the  barn  belonging  to  their 
establishment  here  is  1,000  tons,  and  the  firm  is  en- 
gaged in  shipping  to  Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia, 
Tennessee  and  many  other  points. 

In  1860  Mr.  Philhower  was  married  to  Miss  Han- 
nah McKinney,  the  daughter  of  James  McKinney, 
of  Clennont  County,  Ohio.  In  18(J1,  Mr.  Phil- 
hower served  as  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Richland  Coun- 
ty, and  since  his  residence  in  Mattoon  has  served 
as  Assistant  Supervisor,  and  also  Alderman,  rep- 
resenting the  Fifth  Ward.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
the  Knights  of  Honon 

In  presenting  portraits  in  this  volume  of  leading 
and  representative  citizens  of  Coles  County,  we  are 
pleased  to  include  that  of  the  gentleman  whose  life 
is  briefly  outlined  above.  He  is  a  man  who  enjo.ys 
the  esteem  of  a  multitude  of  the  best  people  of 
the  county,  and  one  whose  business  judgment  and 
sagacity  are  unquestioned. 


;ILL1AM  D.  JONES  honorably  represents 
one  of  the  early  pioneer  families  of  Coles 
County,  owning  an  estate  containing  165 
acres  of  well-improved  land  located  on  section  29. 
Lafayette  Township.  He  is  the  son  of  William  R. 
and  Eliza  P.  (Threlkeld)  Jones,  and  was  born  Nov. 
21,  185(5,  in  this  township.  William  R.  Jones  was 
the  son  of  John  Dumas  and  Sarah  (Blackburn) 
Jones,  and  was  born  Aug.  12,  1808,  in  Harrison 
County,  Ky.  His  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed 
in  his  native  State,  but  possessing  an  enterprising 
and  active  temperament,  lie  came  to  Illinois  in 
1831,  but  did  not  remain.  He  returned,  however, 
in  1837  and  settled  in  this  county.  Ele  came  with 
no  capital,  save  willing  hands  and  a  brave  heart, 
and  applied  himself  closely  to  hard  work,  and  his 


struggle  with  the  perils  and  hardships  of  the  wil- 
derness was  for  a  time  arduous  in  the  extreme,  but 
he  was  industrious  and  economical,  and  gradually 
acquired  some  capital  with  which  to  purchase  more 
land  and  increase  his  business  facilities.  His  efforts 
were  crowned  with  success,  and  he  became  the 
owner  of  over  600  acres  of  well-improved  land,  and 
erected  a  substantial  two-story  brick  residence, 
which  was  one  of  the  best  in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  J.  always  exercised  a  generous  hospitality  in. 
his  home,  and  during  the  Civil  War  evinced  his  loy- 
alty by  affording  material  assistance  to  the  families 
of  the  soldiers  who  had  left  their  wives  and  little 
ones  at  home  to  lay  down  their  lives  in  the  defense 
of  the  "Old  Flag."  In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig, 
but  subsequently  became  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  never  made  a  public 
profession  of  his  religious  faith  by  becoming  a 
member  of  the  church,  but  was  strictly  moral  and 
upright  in  his  daily  life,  never  forgetting  in  his 
business  dealings  and  social  relations  the  brother- 
hood of  man  and  the  precepts  of  the  "Golden 
Rule." 

Mr.  Jones  was  married  twice.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Eliza  P.  Threlkeld,  was  the  daughter  of  Elder 
Thomas  Threlkeld,  and  was  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
Their  marriage  took  place  in  1853,  and  after  three 
brief-years  she  died  Dec.  31,  1856,  leaving  two 
sons,  Thomas  T.  and  William  D.  In  1862  Mr. 
Jones  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ewing.  Mrs. 
Jones  is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Louisa  Ew- 
ing. One  daughter  was  born  to  them,  Sarah 
Louisa.  Mr.  Jones  died  April  6,  1879.  and  lies 
buried  in  Bethel  Cemetery.  His  funeral  services 
were  attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  sympathiz- 
ing friends,  who  thus  evinced  the  high  esteem  in 
which  their  departed  neighbor  and  fellow-citizen 
was  held.  His  widow  still  survives  him,  and  re- 
sides in  Mattoon. 

W.  D.  Jones  has  grown  up  with  this  township, 
where  he  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education,  and  was 
also  taught  the  practical  details  of  farming  by  his 
father,  who  was  active  and  diligent  in  all  enter- 
prises. Before  his  final  settlement  in  Illinois  in 
1837,  he  had  frequently  made  trips  to  this  State, 
purchasing  hogs,  which  he  drove  to  .Kentucky  to 


• 


COLES   COUNTY. 


353 


fatten  and  feed  for  the  market,  one  horse  serving 
to  convey  him  on  thirteen  trips.  He  has  inherited 
his  father's  good  judgment  in  business,  and  owns  a 
fine  farm  containing  165  acres  of  well-improved 
land. 

Mr.  Jones  was  married,  Oct.  1,  1879,  to  Miss 
Cynthia  A.  Williams.  Mrs.  Jones  is  the  daughter 
of  Robert  Elliott  Yates  Williams,  and  was  born 
June  10,  1859,  in  Coles  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jones  have  two  interesting  children,  Franklin  R. 
and  Claude  D.  In  politics  Mr.  Jones  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 


EPHRAIM  HARWOOD,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  stock-grower,  resides  on  section  22.  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  Pleasant  Grove  Town- 
ship, where  he  settled  in  the  spring  of  1865.  Mr. 
Harwood  was  born  April  20,  1827,  in  Franklin 
County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Carroll)  Harwood,  natives  of  Indiana,  where  his 
father  died  in  1  827,  soon  after  the  birth  of  Ephraim, 
leaving  his  widow  with  two  little  children  :  Leah, 
deceased,  formerly  the  wife  of  Reuben  Johnson, 
and  Ephraim,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His 
widow  subsequently  married  John  R.  Dickerson, 
her  second  marriage  taking  place  in  Franklin 
County,  Ind.,  where,  after  several  years  the  home 
circle  was  again  broken,  Mr.  Dickerson  dying,  leav- 
ing his  widow  with  four  children  —  Clarinda,  Ezra, 
Sarah  Jane  and  Elizabeth  A.,  all  of  whom  are 
living.  Their  widowed  mother  is  still  living,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy  -nine  years,  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  children. 

Ephraim  Harwood,  who  was  an  infant  at  the  time 
of  his  father's  death,  remained  with  his  mother,  and 
passed  his  early  life  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  commenced  to  work  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  meeting  with  excellent  success  in  that  line  of 
employment.  March  23,  1852,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Hannah  M.  Teetor,  who  was  born  Feb.  29, 
1836,  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  where  the  wedding 
took  place.  Mrs.  Harwood  is  the  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Mary  (Moore)  Teetor.  Isaac  Teetor  was  a 
farmer,  born  Jan.  7,  1809,  in  the  State  of  New 
York.  He  was  brought  up  to  the  tanner's  trade, 
but  has  given  his  attention  especially  to  agricult- 


lire,  and  is  now  a  substantial  farmer  of  Butler 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  has  resided  for  more  than 
forty  years.  Mr.  Teetor  has  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  (Moore)  Teetor,  was  born 
in  1813,  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  died  in  1847, 
leaving  six  children.  His  second  wife,  with  whom 
he  is  now  living,  was  Miss  Mary  J.  Clawson,  and 
by  this  marriage  eight  children  were  born.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Harwood  resided  in  Hendricks 
County,  Ind.,  where  he  was  occupied  at  the  car- 
penter's trade  until  1 865.  He  then  came  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  where  he 
now  resides,  being  engaged  both  at  his  trade  and 
farming,  and  also  giving  special  attention  to  stock- 
raising.  His  estate  contains  218  acres  of  well-im- 
proved land,  and  is  supplied  with  a  good  farm  resi- 
dence. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harwood  had  a  family  of  thirteen 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  living,  as  follows: 
Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  A.  J.  Whisennand ;  John  Wes- 
ley, a  resident  of  Fullerton,  Neb. ;  Charles  F.,  a 
resident  of  Cumberland  County;  Frank  L.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Coles  County;  Jesse  L.,  a  resident  of 
I  Cowley  County,  Kan.;  James  Allen,  residing  at 
home ;  Isaac  C.,  and  Lillie  Florence  and  Caroline 
Matilda,  twins.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harwood  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
they  are  actively  interested.  The  former  has  been 
a  Class- Leader  and  has  held  several  official  positions 
on  the  Church  Board.  In  politics  Mr.  Harwood  is 
a  Democrat  and  has  served  as  School  Director.  He 
is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  the  county,  having 
commenced  life  a  poor  man,  and  has  acquired  his 
property  by  his  industry  and  energy  in  applying 
himself  to  business. 


J"  OHN  JOHNSON,  deceased,  father  of  John, 
Irvin,  William  and  Frederick  Johnson,  well 
and    favorably    known    throughout    North 
Okaw   Township,    was    a  gentleman  of  fine 
character,  whose    excellent  personal  traits  had  en- 
deared him  to  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. He  was  born  in  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland, 
Jan.  7.    1793,    and   departed  this  life  at  the  home- 


I 


354 


COLES   COUNTY. 


stead  in  East  Nelson  Township,  Moultrie  Co.,  111.. 
Aug.  17,  1864.  This  family,  who  formerly  spelled 
their  name  "Johnston,"  is  of  English  ancestry.  In 
about  the  seventeenth  century,  one  branch  of  it 
emigrated  to  Scotland  and  thence  to  Ireland.  The 
great-grandfather  settled  upon  land  in  Fermanagh 
County,  which  was  owned  and  occupied  by  three 
successive  generations,  the  last  representative  being 
John  Johnson,  of  our  sketch,  who  sold  it  in  1850, 
and  came  with  his  family  to  the  United  States. 

The  subject  of  this  history  was  the  son  of  James 
Johnson,  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  farmed  ex- 
tensively in  his  native  county,  where  he  spent  his 
entire  life.  He  married  Miss  Christiana  Irwin,  a 
native  of  the  same  county  and  the  daughter  of 
David  and  Jennie  Irwin.  She  also  continued  with 
her  husband  a  resident  of  County  Fermanagh, 
where  the  remains  of  both  were  laid  to  rest  in  what 
is  called  Castle  Archdall  burying-ground.  Their 
lives  were  ordered  after  the  strictest  principles  of 
honor  and  morality,  and  they  were  for  many  years 
prominently  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  Their  six  children  were  recorded  as 
follows:  Margaret,  who  became  the  wife  of  James 
C.  Woods,  died  leaving  four  children — Jane.  John, 
James  and  Anna;  Man7  became  the  wife  of  John 
Johnson,  and  both  died  leaving  five  children — 
Arthur,  Margaret,  James,  Irwin  and  Sidney; 
Jennie  died  when  fifty  years  of  age,  and  David  in 
infancy ;  John,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  fifth  child ; 
Sidney  married  John  J.  Scott,  and  is  living  in 
Australia. 

John  Johnson  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  was  principally 
engaged  in  farming,  while  a  resident  there.  He 
was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  business  capacity, 
and  established  a  country  store  about  thirty  miles 
north  of  Londonderry.  He  purchased  his  supplies 
in  the  fall  of  the  year,  and  dealt  largely  in  oats 
which  he  would  buy,  and,  kiln  drying  them,  would 
store  them  away  for  sale  during  the  summer  follow- 
ing. In  about  1820  he  purchased  a  set  of  looms 
and  established  a  linen  manufactory  which  he 
operated  successfully  several  years.  When  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Annie  Bell,  July  2,  1820,  who  was  a  native  of 
the  same  count}'  as  her  husband,  and  born  June  1, 


1800.  Her  parents  were  William  and  Margaret 
(Johnson)  Bell,  who  also  were  born  and  spent  their 
entire  lives  in  County  Fermanagh. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  became  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  and 
then,  not  being  satisfied  with  their  condition  or  their 
prospects,  determined  to  emigrate  to  the  New  World. 
After  making  due  preparations  they  sailed  on  the 
13th  of  May,  185C  and  after  a  voyage  of  thirteen 

|  weeks  landed  in  New  York  City.  They  staid  there 
with  friends  a  short  time,  and  then  continued  their 
journey  by  steamer  to  Albany,  thence  by  canal  to 
Buffalo,  and  thence  by  steamer  again  to  Chicago, 
and  then '  proceeded  by  canal  to  Peru,  111.  A 
friend  of  Mr.  Johnson  had  already  located  in 
Moultrie  County,  and  thither  Mr.  J.  determined  to 
proceed.  At  Peru,  however,  no  one  could  give 
him  any  information  as  to  the  whereabouts  of 
Moultrie  County,  so  he  concluded  to  remain  there 
until  he  could  hear  from  his  friend.  He  dis- 
patched a  letter,  to  which  he  soon  received  an 
answer,  and  started  at  once  with  his  family  by 
wagons,  in  due  time  reaching  his  destination.  As 
may  readily  be  supposed  the  country  was  wild  and 
practically  uninhabited. 

Mr.  Johnson  rented  120  acres  of  improved  land 
in  East  Nelson  Township,  upon  which  stood  a  house 
that  had  been  used  as  a  hotel  and  store,  and 
which,  with  the  land  around  it,  was  known  as 
Juliann.  This  he  operated  upon  one  year,  and  then 
purchased  and  built  up  a  comfortable  homestead, 
which  the  parents  occupied  until  their  earthly  labors 
were  ended.  The  wife  and  mother  departed  this 
life,  Feb.  19,  1863.  The  father  survived  about 
eighteen  months.  Their  remains  lie  side  by  side 
in  the  Sullivan  burying-ground.  They  had  lived 
worthily  and  uprightly,  and  were  sadly  missed  by 
a  large  number  of  friends  and  acquaintances  who 
had  regarded  them  as  pillars  of  the  church  and 
members  of  the  community  whose  places  it  would 
be  difficult  to  fill.  John  Johnson  was  a  man  sin- 
gularly gifted  with  those  characteristics  which  have 
kept  his  memory  green  in  the  hearts  of  all  who 
knew  him.  As  a  husband  and  father  he  was  rarely 

,  affectionate  and  indulgent,  as  a  friend,  generous  to 
a  fault,  and  as  a  citizen,  kind,  hospitable  and  charit- 
able, generous  to  the  poor  and  a  liberal  and  cheer- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


355 


ful  contributor  to  the  support  of  religious  and 
educational  institutions.  The  property  in  Moultrie 
County  is  still  retained  by  his  children. 

The  household  circle  of  John  and  Annie  Johnson 
was  completed  by  the  birth  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  the  record  is  as  follows:  Arthur,  born  Sept. 
15,  1821,  married  Miss  Rebecca  J.  Caldwell,  and 
emigrated  with  his  family  to  the  United  States  in 
1875,  twenty-five  years  after  the  arrival  of  his 
father  here  ;  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  farm  in  North 
Okaw  Township.  William  is  made  the  subject  of  a 
biography  on  another  page  in  this  work;  Christiana, 
born  Aug.  15,  1825,  is  living  with  her  brother, 
Frederick;  Isabella,  born  in  1827,  is  the  wife  of 
John  A.  Warren,  a  resident  of  Texas;  James,  born 
Jan.  19,  1831,  was  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a 
boiler,  May  26,  1883;  Irvin  was  born  March  26, 
1832,  and  the  principal  points  of  his  history  are 
given  in  his  sketch  on  another  page;  Margaret, 
born  in  1837,  is  living  with  her  brother,  Fred- 
erick ;  John  and  Frederick  are  treated  of  elsewhere 
in  this  ALUVM;  Jane,  who  was  born  in  1845.  died 
Sept.  28,  1855,  and  one  child  died  unnamed  in 
infancy. 


R.  J.  S.  GARNER,  who  for  the  last  twenty- 
two  years  has  been  a  successful  practicing 
physician  of  the  village  of  Salisbury,  owns 
a  well-improved  farm  of  sixty  acres  ad- 
joining the  village,  and  is  a  prominent  citizen  of 
that  locality.  He  is  a  native  of  Russell  County, 
Ky.,  born  Oct.  14,  1831,  and  comes  from  an  ex- 
cellent North  Carolina  family.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  Paris  Garner  by  name, 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  his  native  State.  He 
was  there  married  to  Miss  Lydia  Ann  Curtis,  a 
native  of  the  same  State,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  namely,  Francis;  Paris, 
Jr.,  the  father  of  oar  subject;  Curtis,  Nancy,  Per- 
melia,  Lilly  Ann  and  Henry.  These  are  all  deceased. 
Grandfather  Garner  was  active  and  enterprising  in 
character,  and  previous  to  the  War  of  1812,  visited 
Pulaski  County,  Ky..  where  he  purchased  a  tract 
of  land.  Upon  the  coming  on  of  the  war  he 
shouldered  his  musket  and  served  as  u  soldier  all 


through  the  conflict,  and  died  when  within  three 
miles  of  his  home,  while  on  his  return  there  after 
receiving  his  honorable  discharge.  His  wife  had 
died  three  years  before. 

Their  son,  Paris,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  the  second  born,  his  birth  taking  place  in 
North  Carolina  in  1801.  He  left  his  native  State 
with  his  parents  and  located  with  them  in  Pulaski 
County,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  re- 
'ceived  a  good  common-school  education.  He  was 
but  twelve  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  father's 
death,  and  was  then  taken  by  his  uncle,  Vincent 
Garner,  with  whom  he  remained  until  his  marriage. 
The  maiden  of  his  choice  was  Miss  Sarah  L. 
Pierce,  who  was  born  in  1806,  and  became  his  wife 
in  1822.  Her  parents  were  James  and  Elizabeth 
Pierce,  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  elder  Garner 
after  his  marriage  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in 
Russell  County,  Ky.,  which  he  occupied  and  culti- 
vated with  marked  success  until  1840,  then  selling 
out  purchased  800  acres  in  Wayne  County,  and  be- 
came the  owner  of  twenty  slaves,  by  which  means 
his  land  was  cultivated  and  improved.  He  put  up 
one  of  the  finest  residences  in  that  section,  also  a 
grist  and  saw  mill  and  a  large  distillery,  and  re- 
mained a  resident  there  until  1860.  That  year  he 
purchased  a  valuable  farm  in  Grayson  County, 
which  remained  his  final  residence. 

While  on  a  visit  to  his  son-in-law.  Charles  King, 
of  Hart  County,  Paris  Garner  was  seized  with 
fatal  illness  and  passed  away  in  February,  1866. 
His  wife  survived  him  for  a  period  of  nineteen 
years,  her  death  taking  place  in  Wayne  County, 
Ky.,  in  1885.  Both  were  devoted  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  Paris  Garner  held  the  various 
offices  of  his  county,  including  those  of  Sheriff  and 
Assessor,  and  was  in  all  respects  prominently 
identified  with  the  business  and  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  the  Blue  Grass  State.  The  children  of  the 
parental  household  were  named  respectively,  Curtis, 
James  P.,  Lettice  B.,  Sarah  A. ;  J.  S.,  of  our 
sketch;  Mary  Elizabeth,  Martha  F.,  John  P.,  Sarah 
and  Jane.  The  latter  two  are  deceased. 

The  subject  of  our  history,  who  was  the  fifth 
child  of  his  parents,  remained  under  the  home 
roof  until  nineteen  years  old,  receiving  the  benefits 
of  the  common  school  and  gaining  a  good  insight 


356 


COLES   COUNTY. 


into  the  labors  of  the  farm.  His  taste,  however, 
lay  in  a  different  direction,  and  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  under  the  instruction  of  J.  S. 
Pierce,  of  Lancaster,  Ky.,  with  whom  he  remained 
two  years  and  then  attended  a  course  of  lectures 
at  Louisville.  He  commenced  the  profession  as 
the  partner  of  his  tutor,  and  six  months  later, 
going  into  Wayne  .County,  practiced  there  until 
1860.  Thence  he  removed  to  Grayson  County 
and  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres.  He  did 
not  abandon  his  practice  by  any  means,  but  ex- 
tended his  professional  duties  into  Breckinridge 
County,  where  he  also  purchased  another  tract  of 
land,  comprising  120  acres. 

Dr.  Garner  was  a  strong  Union  man,  and  during 
the  summer  of  1863,  while  the  Rebellion  was  in 
progress,  recruited  Co.  K,  48th  Keutuclcy  Mounted 
Infantry,  of  which  he  was  tendered  the  commission 
of  Captain,  but  preferred  that  of  First  Lieutenant, 
and  served  with  this  rank  about  eighteen  months. 
He  was  subsequentl}'  appointed  .Surgeon  of  the 
regiment.  He  did  not  hide  himself  from  danger 
behind  his  professional  duties,  but  was  present 
with  the  balance  of  the  regiment  at  the  various 
battles  and  skirmishes  encountered  by  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland,  and  at  the  surrrender  of  Lee 
received  his  honorable  discharge,  and  was  mustered 
out  in  December,  1864.  After  the  war  ended  Dr. 
Garner  returned  to  Breckinridge  County,  Ky., 
and  during  February,  1865,  sought  the  Prairie 
State  and  began  practice  at  Salisbury,  where  ho  has 
since  remained.  His  life  has  been  one  of  energy 
and  activity,  and  he  has  witnessed  with  unabated 
interest  the  growth  and  development  of  one  of 
the  most  promising  of  the  Western  States. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Garner  and  Miss  Minnie  E. 
Roberts  was  celebrated  on  the  24th  of  April,  1854, 
in  Wayne  County,  Ky.,  at  the  home  of  the  bride's 
parents.  Mrs.  Garner  was  born  in  the  latter- 
named  county,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Squire  and 
Penelope  Roberts,  also  natives  of  the  Blue  Grass 
State.  Her  father  died  in  Wayne  County,  in  1861, 
and  the  mother  in  1883.  They  were  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church  and  the  father  was  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  a  number  of  years  in  his  township. 

The  record  of  the  seven  children  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Garner  is  as  follows:  Marietta,  born  Aug. 


11,  1858.  was  married  to  John  D.  Muncy,  a  farmer 
of  Finney  County,  Kan.  ;    Emma  A.,   born    Aug. 

12,  1859,  is  the  wife  of  G.  M.  Roberts,  of  Meade 
County,  Kan.;  John   P.    L.,  born    Feb.   21,    1861, 
married  Miss  May  C.  Davis,  and  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Ashmore  Township;  Minnie  M.,  born  Dec.  27, 
1866,  is  at  home;  Viola  B.,  born   March  9,   186!)  ; 
Edwin  M.  S.,  July  9,  1871,  and  Lulu    M.,  Oct.    5, 
1873,  are  at  home  with  their  parents.     The  Doctor 
and  his  wife  are  regular  attendants  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Salisbury.     He  is  a  stanch   Republican, 
politically,  and  socially,  a  member  of  the   Masonic 
fraternity,  belonging  to  Lodge  No.   698,  at  Diona. 


F  OHN  M.  MOFFETT  is  one  of  the  substan- 
tial farmers  and  stock-growers  of  Ashmore 
Township,  located  on  section  28.  He  was 
born  Sept.  20,  1835,  in  Augusta  County, 
Va.,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Mitchell) 
Moffett,  natives  of  Virginia.  James  Moffett  was 
born  July  13,  1809.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1838 
and  engaged  in  farming.  His  death  occurred  in 
1880.  He  had  received  a  superior  education  in  his 
native  State  and  spent  several  years  of  his  early 
life  in  teaching.  He  was  married  four  times,  his 
first  marriage  occurring  March  13,  1831.  His  wife 
was  born  March  3,  1808,  and  her  death  occurred 
April  7,  1844.  Five  children  were  born  to  them, 
whose  record  is  as  follows  :  Betsy  A.  married  John 
Wright;  Harvey  C.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five; 
John  M.,  our  subject;  Sarah  V.  married  Robert 
Wright;  Cynthia  J.  married  C.  C.  Howerton. 
The  family  were  all  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Harvey  C.  belonged  to  that  branch  called 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  James  was 
married  the  second  time,  to  Miss  Margaret  J. 
Mitchel,  but  their  married  life  was  of  short  dura- 
tion. Not  long  after  her  death  he  married  Miss 
Sarah  Shumaker,  who  died  leaving  no  children.  His 
last  marriage  was  to  Miss  Eva  A.  Walters,  and  three 
children  were  born  to  them  —  George  V.,  Burley  S. 
and  Amanda  B. 

John  M.  Moffett  lived  with  his  parents  and  passed 
his  childhood  and  youth  in  attending  the  common 
school  during  the  winter  season,  and  in  the  summer 


COLES   COUNTY. 


357 


assisting  his  father  in  the  various  branches  of  farm 
labor.  His  first  purchase  of  land  was  made  in  1863. 
when  he  invested  in  a  small  farm  of  forty  acres. 
He  has  gradually  added  to  this,  until  he  now  owns 
a  fine  estate  containing  150  acres  of  valuable  laud. 
His  attention  has  been  especially  given  to  raising 
graded  stock. 

Our  subject  was  married,  Jan.  26.  18(10,  to  Miss 
Lydia  J.  Brooks.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Archibald 
and  Nancy  (Powell)  Brooks,  and  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  Jan.  25,  1834.  (For  the  history  of 
her  parents  see  sketch  of  Archibald  Brooks.)  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Moffett  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
only  three  of  whom  arc  now  living.  Their  record 
is  as  follows:  Kate  A.  died  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een years;  James  A.,  Joseph  A.,  Diadama  and 
Maria  J.,  twins;  the  latter  died  at  the  age  of  ten 
weeks.  Nancy  P.  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
months,  and  Benjamin  M.,  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

Mr.  Moffett  is  interested  in  all  affairs  calculated 
to  benefit  the  township  and  county,  and  has  for 
two  years  held  the  office  of  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways. He  is  prudent  in  business  affairs  and  holds 
a  life  policy  for  $2,000  in  the  Temperance  Order  of 
Royal  Templars.  His  life  has  been  consecrated  to 
the  service  of  Christ  from  boyhood,  he  becoming 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  when  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  and  is  now  one  of  its  Elders. 


iNDREW  J.  WHISENNAND,  a  prominent 
farmer  and  one  of  the  self-made  men  of 
Coles  County,  resides  on  section  20,  Pleas- 
ant Grove  Township,  near  Campbell.  He 
was  born  April  3,  1839,  in  Monroe  County,  Ind., 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Lucinda  Whisennand. 
John  Whisennand  was  born  Nov.  10,  1810,  in  Vir- 
ginia. When  a  boy  his  parents  left  their  Eastern 
home  and  moved  to  Indiana,  where  his  earl}'  life 
was  passed,  and  his  marriage  to  Miss  Lucinda 
Wright  took  place.  She  was  a  native  of  that  State, 
born  in  1817.  Late  in  the  autumn  of  1848,  Mr. 
Whisennand  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
and  purchasing  land  in  Cumberland  Conntj',  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  there  until  1855,  when  he 


sold  out  his  interests  and  removed  to  Collin  Coun- 
ty, Tex.,  where  they  passed  the  winter  and  were 
well  pleased  with  the  country.  But  circumstances 
caused  them  to  change  their  plans,  as  Mr.  Whisen- 
nand had  sold  his  property  in  this  State  on  time, 
and  a  financial  panic  was  threatening,  so  he  returned 
with  his  family  to  Illinois  in  order  to  attend  to  his 
business  interests.  In  the  adjustment  of  affairs,  he 
finally  decided  to  remain,  and  made  his  permanent 
home  in  Cumberland  County,  near  the  limits  of 
Coles.  Mrs.  Whisennand  was  removed  from  her 
home  and  family  by  death  Oct.  15,  1865.  She  was 
the  mother  of  four  children,  two  now  living — An- 
drew J.  and  Semilda,  the  wife  of  James  E.  Phipps. 
Mr.  Whisennand  subsequently  married  Mrs.  Sus- 
anna (Bradford)  Matthews,  and  by  this  marriage 
four  children  were  born,  two  of  whom  are  living — 
John  C.  and  James.  After  the  death  of  his  second 
wife  Mr.  W.  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Russell. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Whisennand  was  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  and  filled  several 
local  offices,  giving  general  satisfaction  to  the 
people  in  the  discharge  of  his  public  duties.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  his 
death  occurred  at  the  homestead  in  1881. 

Andrew  Whiseunand  was  a  child  when  his  family 
removed  to  Illinois.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Cumberland  County,  where  he  acquired  a 
practical  knowledge  of  agriculture,  and  also  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education.  Feb.  4, 
1869,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Best,  and 
subsequently  removed  to  Coles  County,  and  settled 
in  this  township,  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides. 
Within  a  few  years  after  his  marriage,  the  home 
circle  was  broken  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  who 
died  June  8,  1877,  leaving  four  children — Cora, 
Lizzie,  Willie  and  Mary.  Jan.  19,  1878,  Mr. 
Whisennand  married  Miss  Mary  E.  llarwood,  the 
daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Margaret  Hai  wood.  Mrs. 
Whisennand  was  born  Dec.  18,  1852,  in  Butler 
County,  Ohio.  They  have  no  children. 

Mr.  Whisennand  has  acquired  his  property 
through  his  own  exertions,  and  is  the  owner  of 
nearly  200  acres  of  well-improved  land,  with  ex- 
cellent farm  buildings.  He  gives  special  attention 
to  stock-raising,  in  which  he  has  been  very  success- 
ful. In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  served 


T 


358 


COLES   COUNTY. 


in  some  of  the  local  offices.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whisen- 
uand  differ  in  the  outward  form  of  their  religious 
faith,  the  former  being  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
laud  Presbyterian  and  the  latter  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


THOMAS  T.  JONES  was  born  Oct.  12,  1854, 
in  Lafayette  Township.  He  is  the  only 
brother  of  William  D.  Jones,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  they  re- 
side near  each  other,  and  a  strong  fraternal  regard 
exists  between  them.  Thomas  was  reared  at  home, 
where  he  received  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion, and  assisted  his  father  in  the  various  branches 
of  farm  labor.  He  was  married,  Sept.  11,  1878,  to 
Miss  Rosa  Clark.  Mrs.  Jones  is  the  daughter  of 
G.  P.  Clark,  and  was  born  in  1860,  in  Lafayette 
Township.  They  have  an  interesting  family  of 
four  children  —  Robert,  Estelle,  Carrie  and  Earnest. 
Mr.  Jones  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate  containing 
250  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  well-improved 
and  cultivated.  In  conducting  his  farm  he  gives 
special  attention  to  stock-raising. 


RS.  MARY  S.  TRAVER,  the  widow  of 
William  Henry  Traver,  late  of  Charleston, 
is  pleasantly  located  on  a  fine  farm  of  114 
acres,  a  part  of  which  lies  in  the  city  limits, 
and  which  through  the  industry  and  excellent  judg- 
ment of  her  late  husband,  comprises  a  valuable  and 
beautiful  homestead  and  assists  largely  in  embellish- 
ing the  landscape  of  Charleston  Township. 

Mr.  Traver,  a  native  of  Schenectady  County,  N. 
Y.,  was  born  June  11,  1843,  and  was  the  son  of 
William  and  Maria  (Reese)  Traver.  also  natives  of 
the  Empire  State.  William  Traver  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  but  later  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits at  Brooklyn.  The  son,  Henry,  was  reared  on 
the  farm  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  in  the  mean- 
time receiving  a  fair  education  in  the  common 
schools.  He  then  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  wholesale 


grocery  store  in  Brooklyn,  where  he  remained  two 
and  one-half  years,  after  which  his  employer  sent 
him  to  Canada  to  sell  fruit.  He  remained  in  the 
Dominion  one  year,  and  returning  to  New  York 
engaged  as  clerk  in  a  jewelry  house.  Subsequently 
he  returned  to  the  fruit  business  and  also  dealt  in 
flowers. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  Mr.  Traver 
enlisted  in  the  176th  New  York  Infantry,  and  fol- 
lowed the  life  of  a  soldier  for  over  three  years. 
His  career  in  the  army  was  creditable  in  the  ex- 
treme, and  he  fortunately  escaped  injury  and  im- 
prisonment by  the  rebels.  After  receiving  his 
honorable  discharge  he  returned  to  his  native 
State,  where  he  engaged  in  business  for  a  short 
time,  but  in  1865  decided  to  make  his  home  in  the 
West.  He  first  located  in  Clark  County,  this  State, 
near  the  town  of  Marshall,  and  engaged  in  the  rais- 
ing of  broom  corn,  which  he  shipped  East  at  a  good 
profit.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  this  county 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brooms  at 
Charleston,  which  he  followed  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  death  occurred  at  the  family  homestead 
on  the  7th  of  August,  1878. 

The  marriage  of  William  H.  Traver  and  Miss 
Mary  S.  Parker,  of  Charleston,  took  place  in  the 
spring  of  18G8,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  par- 
ents in  Charleston  Township.  Mrs.  T.  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Dorcas  (Heath)  Parker,  who  were 
natives  respectively  of  this  county  and  North  Caro- 
lina. Mr.  Parker  engaged  in  fanning  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  and  was  County  Surveyor  for  many 
years.  His  father,  Benjamin  by  name,  was  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Coles  County,  and  owned  a  large 
portion  of  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Charleston. 
He  met  his  death  while  on  his  way  to  Texas  in 
1869,  being  killed  by  the  Indians.  The  parents 
were  married  in  1845,  and  there  were  three  chil- 
dren— John  H.,  Mary  S.,  and  Martha,  now  Mrs.  J. 
P.  Phillips.  The  farm  of  Mr.  Parker  in  Charleston 
Township  embraces  360  acres.  The  mother  re- 
mained on  the  homestead  seven  years  after  the 
death  of  her  husband,  and  passed  away  in  1876. 
Both  parents  were  devout  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  and  greatly  respected  for 
their  excellent  qualities  of  mind  and  heart. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Traver  early  in  life  united  with  the 


f 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 
:>!:'VF-RSITY  OF  ILLirO'S 


RESIDENCE  OF  1 .  W.SAI  N  -,SEC.  6.  MORGANTOWNSHIP. 


',; 


RESIOINCE  or 


LLiAMs.SEc.6.  MUTTON  TOWNSHIP. 


f 


COLES   COUNTY. 


361 


Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  the  former  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  and  with  which  the  latter  is 
still  connected.  Socially  Mr.  T.  belonged  to  the 
Odd  Fellows,  and  Mrs.  T.  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Templars  Society.  They  became  the  parents  of 
three  children — Lelia,  Ortoii,  and  Guyella.  The  lat- 
ter is  deceased ;  the  others  are  at  home. 


ELLIOTT  YATES  WILLIAMS,  a 
worthy  descendant  of  one  of  the  early  pio- 
neer  families  of  Coles  County,  and  a  promi- 
citizen  of  Lafaj'ette  Township,  was 
born  March  1,  1815,  in  Grayson  County,  Ky.,  and 
is  the  son  of  William  L.  and  Mary  (Gannavvay) 
Williams,  natives  of  Virginia,  who  removed  to 
Kentucky  at  an  early  day  and  thence  to  Illinois  in 
1829,  and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Lafay- 
ette Township,  which,  at  the  time  of  their  adVent 
was  a  primeval  wilderness,  surrounded  by  tribes  of 
hostile  Indians;  its  vast,  lonely  prairies,  covered 
with  tall,  rank  grass,  abounded  with  wolves  and 
deer,  and  beasts  of  prey  lurked  within  the  shade  of 
its  forests.  It  was  a  hazardous  enterprise  to  face 
the  perils  of  frontier  life  at  that  early  day,  and  the 
few  settlers  who  were  hardy  enough  to  venture 
there  were  widely  separated  and  almost  entirely 
isolated  during  the  long  cold  winters. 

William  L.  Williams  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  died  in  Kentucky,  leaving  a  family  of  twelve 
children,  all  of  whom,  with  one  exception,  attained 
maturity.  Only  two,  however,  are  now  living — 
Robert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Louisa,  now 
Mrs.  William  Ewing.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs. 
Catherine  (Keller)  Van  Meter,  their  marriage  taking 
place  in  Coles  County,  and  three  children  were  born 
to  them,  one  of  whom  is  now  living- — Martha,  the 
wife  of  Myron  Ferguson. 

Robert  Williams  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  his  father  moved  to  Illinois,  and  while  there 
is  much  to  interest  and  employ  a  boy  of  that  age 
in  pioneer  life,  it  is  a  period  when  he  can  ill  afford 
to  forego  the  advantages  of  education,  and  Mr. 
Williams  has  keenly  felt  in  later  life  his  depriva- 
tions in  that  respect.  He  possesses,  however,  an 


intelligent,  progressive  mind,  and  by  close  applica- 
tion, and  the  improvement  of  every  opportunity 
within  his  reach,  keeps  himself  well  informed  in  re- 
gard to  all  the  topics  of  the  day,  and  is  especially 
well-read  in  history.  His  elder  brother,  John, 
served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  as  Robert  was  born 
in  1815,  he  was  named  after  the  Captain  under 
whom  his  brother  served,  and  from  that  incident 
received  the  appellation  of  "  Captain,"  which  has 
clung  to  him  through  life,  and  he  is  generally 
known  as  '•  Capt.  Williams." 

Mr.  Williams  was  married,  May  31,  1831),  to 
Miss  Mary  A.  Van  Meter.  Mrs.  Williams  is  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Van  Meter,  and 
was  born  July  10,  1817,  in  the  State  Of  Kentucky. 
Our  subject  and  wife  have  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren— John  W..  Leagon,  Robert  E.,  Melissa  C., 
Thomas  and  Cynthia  C.  Melissa  is  the  wife  of 
Samuel  W.  Balch,  and  Cynthia  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam D.  Jones.  Mr.  Williams  has  given  his  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his  life, 
and  was  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate  containing  400 
acres  of  valuable  land,  until  it  was  divided  among 
his  children.  Mr.  Williams  was  a  Whig  ii4*fearly 
life,  but  has  been  a  stanch  Republican  since  the  or- 
ganization of  that  party.  He  is  a  public-spirited 
man,  and  has  held  many  local  offices  in  the  town- 
ship, giving  general  satisfaction  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duties.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  and  through  life 
has  been  an  earnest  worker  within  the  fold  of  that 
religious  body. 


JOSEPH  McNEEL,  who  is  occupying  a  good 
farm  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  28, 
is  comparatively  a  young  man,  and  accounted 

I/    one   of  the  most  worthy  citizens  of  Seven 
^=^> 

Hickory  Township.  He  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead of  his  parents,  Dec.  18,  1848,  and  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  the  death  of  his  father. 
March  23,  1862.  Afterward  he  continued  with  his 
mother,  and  remained  her  support  and  counselor, 
taking  upon  himself  the  management  of  her  affairs, 
and  performing  with  great  credit  the  filial  duties  as- 


362 


COLES   COUNTY. 


signed  him.  The  mother  is  still  living,  making  her 
home  with  her  sou  Joseph. 

Our  subject  received  a  common-school  education, 
and  after  reaching  his  majority  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, March  30,  1881,  with  Miss  Rosa  L.  Cook,  a 
native  of  Monroe  County,  Ind.  The  wedding  took 
place  at  the  residence  of  the  minister,  Rev.  Louis 
Lauman,  east  of  Charleston.  Mrs.  McNeel  came 
to  Illinois  with  her  parents  when  a  young  girl,  and 
they  settled  at  Mattoon,  whence  they  afterward  re- 
moved to  Hutton  Township.  Her  father,  John 
Cook,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  his  wife,  Har- 
riet (Wiseman)  Cook,  of  Monroe  Co.,  Ind.  The  chil- 
dren of  the  parental  household  were  Rosa,  George 
M.,  Emma,  Elizabeth,  Kittie  B.,  Hattie,  Hannah, 
and  one  child,  Jacob,  who  died  in  infancy.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McNeel  are:  John  Benja- 
min, born  March  25,  1883,  and  a  babe,  which  did 
not  live  to  receive  a  name.  The  farm  of  our  sub- 
ject embraces  200  acres  of  good  land,  and  is  largely 
devoted  to  stock-farming,  including  Clydesdale 
horses  and  fine  grades  of  Short-horn  cattle. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Benjamin  and 
KleaiHl:  (Fowler)  McNeel,  were  natives  respectively 
of  Ohio  and  Tennessee.  After  marriage  they  set- 
tled in  Coles  County,  111.  Joseph,  of  our  sketch, 
was  their  eldest  son;  Albert  was  born  Aug.  9,  1850; 
Daniel  Webster,  Jan.  15,  1852;  Irwin  was  born  in 
1854.  and  died  in  1855;  William  S.  is  a  resident  of 
this  township;  Elizabeth  May  became  the  wife  of 
A.  R.  Bridges,  and  is  also  a  resident  of  this  town7 
ship,  being  the  mother  of  two  children — Ethel  and 
William;  Benjamin  H.,  born  April  4.  1862,  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  Baulch,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  teaching  in  this  county. 


M.  JENKINS,  who  for  a  number  of  years 
was  one  of  the  most  successful  merchants 
of  Charleston,  is  now  retired  from  active 
business  and  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  well-spent  life, 
in  a  handsome  home  on  Washington  street,  of  which 
he  has  been  in  possession  since  1861.  The  family 
residence  is  a  fine  brick  structure,  and  its  surround- 
ings are  those  of  a  prosperous,  refined  and  intelli- 
gent citizen. 

Mr.   Jenkins  was   born  in  Putnam  County,  Ind., 


July  1.  1832,  and  is  the  son  of  J.  M.  and  Nancy 
(Martin)  Jenkins,  natives  of  Lexington,  Ky.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Elijah  Jenkins, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  of  German  descent,  and 
followed  agricultural  pursuits.  He  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Kentucky  at  an  early  period  in  its  history, 
and  was  there  married  and  reared  a  fine  family  of 
sons  and  daughters.  He  died  in  Putnam  County, 
Ind.,  at  the  age  of  ninety- three  years.  Among  his 
children  was  the  father  of  our  subject,  who,  follow- 
ing in  the  footsteps  of  most  of  his  ancestors,  took 
naturally  to  farming,  and  also  perfected  himself 
as  a  business  man,  engaging  for  a  number  of  years 
as  a  builder  and  contractor.  He  was  but  a  child 
when  his  parents  became  residents  of  Indiana,  and 
remained  there  the  balance  of  his  days,  his  death 
occurring  after  he  had  reached  an  advanced  age.  in 
1883.  The  parental  family  of  our  subject  included 
seven  children,  four  now  living,  namely,  Mary  J., 
Mrs.  Parks,  of  luka,  Kan.;  William  M.,  of  our 
sketch;  Elijah  A.,  a  resident  of  Charleston,  and 
Samantha,  the  wife  of  William  H.  O'Neal,  and  a 
resident  of  Putnam  County,  Ind.  The  wife  and 
mother  passed  to  the  other  life  in  the  spring  of 
1848. 

William  M.  Jenkins  remained  with  the  family  on 
his  father's  farm  until  twenty  years  of  age,  in  the 
meantime  receiving  a  practical  education.  He 
commenced  teaching  when  eighteen  years  old, 
which  occupation  he  followed  three  years,  then  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  at  Putnamville,  Ind.,  one  year. 
He  then  resumed  teaching  for  a  brief  time,  after 
which  he  entered  the  store  of  T.  W.  Williamson,  of 
Greencastle,  with  whom  he  continued  five  years 
and  gained  a  good  insight  into  general  merchan- 
dising. 

Mr.  Jenkins  became  a  resident  of  Charleston  in 
the  fall  of  1859,  and  in  company  with  his  brother 
Elijah  A.,  and  T.  W.  Williamson,  established  a 
business  in  general  merchandise,  in  which  the  three 
continued  for  two  years  following.  Mr.  William- 
son then  withdrew,  and  our  subject  and  his  brother 
continued  the  business  until  1865.  They  then  sold 
out  to  Wilson  Bros.,  and  in  two  weeks  re-estab- 
lished with  a  new  stock  and  continued  until  the 
summer  of  1880.  William  M.  then  sold  out  to 
his  brother  and  the  son  of  the  latter,  and  retired 


T 


t 


COLES    COUNTY. 


363 


from  business  to  enjoy  his  justly  earned  compe- 
tency. 

Mr.  Jenkins  since  taking  up  his  residence  in 
Charleston  has  been  one  of  its  most  energetic  citi- 
zens, and  has  identified  himself  with  the  interests 
best  calculated  to  build  up  the  city  and  minister 
to  the  welfare  of  its  people.  Me  is  still  one  of  the 
stockholders  of  the  Second  National  Bank,  also  a 
Director,  and  was  identified  in  former  years  with 
the  First  National  as  a  stockholder.  His  influence 
and  means  assisted  greatly  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Charleston  Hotel,  and  the  plank  road,  which 
runs  ten  miles  into  the  country,  and  was  of  great 
assistance  to  travel,  would  scarcely  have  been  com  - 
pleted  to  its  present  distance  without  his  material 
aid.  He  has  also  an  interest  in  the  Charleston 
Creamery,  and  in  the  Narrow-Gauge  Railroad,  and 
is  one  of  the  moving  spirits  in  the  stock  company 
which  has  been  engaged  in  developing  the  coal 
mines  north  of  the  town.  Charleston  hopes  in  time 
to  be  lighted  by  natural  gas,  and  Mr.  Jenkins,  in 
compaii}7  with  other  enterprising  citizens,  has 
risked  considerable  in  this  venture. 

The  lady  who  has  been  the  worthy  sharer  of  the 
home  and  fortunes  of  our  subject  since  the  spring 
of  1857,  was  formerly  Miss  Elizabeth,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  and  Catherine  (Skelton)  Jenkins, 
natives  of  Kentucky.  The  father  of  Mrs.  J.  for 
many  years  engaged  in  farming  in  Indiana,  and 
then  removed  to  Illinois.  He  resided,  however, 
but  a  short  time  in  the  Prairie  State,  then  returned 
to  Indiana,  whence  he  afterward  moved  across  the 
Mississippi  to  Nebraska,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
and  his  estimable  lady  reared  a  family  of  seven 
children,  five  now  living,  namely,  Sarah,  Mrs. 
Ward,  of  Louisville,  Neb. ;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Jen- 
kins; Elijah,  of  Greenwood,  Neb.;  Emily,  Mrs. 
Bias,  of  Missouri,  and  Columbus,  of  Iowa. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jenkins  were  not  blest  with  chil- 
dren, but  reared  two  belonging  to  a  sister  of  Mr.  J. 
His  sister  Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  B. 
Garten,  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  at  present  a  member  of  the  Indiana 
Conference.  Of  their  daughters,  Myra  became  an 
inmate  of  the  home  of  our  subject  when  a  little 
girl  two  and  one-half  years  of  age,  and  continued 
there  until  her  marriage  with  S.  M.  Tooke,  of 


Charleston;  she  had  three  children — Stella;  Will- 
iam, deceased,  and  Lizzie.  Stella  went  to  live  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  when  a  child  of  eighteen  months, 
and  remained  with  them  until  her  marriage  with 
J.  M.  Davis,  of  Omaha,  Neb.;  she  has  one  daugh- 
ter, Myra. 

Mr.  Jenkins  has  always  given  his  undivided  sup- 
port to  Republican  principles,  and  socially  belongs 
to  the  Knights  of  Honor.  He  and  his  wife  are  ex- 
emplary members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  David 
Martin,  was  born  in  the  North  of  Ireland  about 
the  year  1725  or  1728,  and  married  a  Miss  Allison, 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  He  emigrated  to  this  country,  and 
served  as  a  minute-man  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
being  in  a  number  of  battles.  His  son  William,  our 
subject's  grandfather,  married  Mary  Ann  Cook,  a 
daughter  of  William  Cook.  The  latter  in  the  time 
of  the  war  between  France  and  England,  was  on  a 
vessel  of  marque  and  reprisal,  which  captured  a 
great  many  merchant  vessels  belonging  to  France. 
At  the  close,  of  this  war  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  served  seven  years  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  under  Washington.  He  then  returned  to  the 
old  country,  and  it  is  uncertain  when  or  where  he 
died.  Grandfather  Martin  and  wife  were  born  in 
Augusta  County,  Va.,  where  they  were  married, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1805  moved  to  Kentucky,  thence, 
in  1826,  to  Putnam  County,  Ind. 


1J.  MONFORT,  deceased,  formerly  a  leading 
citizen  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  1836.  He  was  born  May  11, 
1812,  in  Henry  County,  Ky.,  and  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Owen  County,  where  :he  was  married 
June  13,  1833,  to  Miss  Mahala  A.  Marston,  a  native 
of  Shelby  County,  Ky.,  born  Oct.  11,  1813.  In 
1836  Mr.  Moufort  moved  with  his  young  wife  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Coles  County,  near  the  head- 
waters of  the  Kickapoo  River,  and  a  few  years  later 
located  on  section  1 ,  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  and 
gave  his  attention  to  farming. 

Prior  to  his  removal  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Monfurt  had 


4* 


364 


COLES   COUNTY. 


suffered  financial  losses  from  fire,  and  on  his  arrival 
in  Coles  County  was  the  owner  of  only  about  $100 
worth  of  property.  He  had  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion for  the  early  days,  and  engaged  in  teaching- 
school  at  IIC  per  month.  He  always  shouldered 
his  gun,  and  on  his  way  to  and  from  the  log  school- 
house  shot  the  prairie  chickens,  which  were  very 
abundant.  These  served  for  food,  and  his  econom- 
ical wife  saved  the  feathers,  and  thereby  procured 
some  pillows  and  a  feather-bed,  which  added  ma- 
terially to  the  household  comfort.  Mrs.  Monfort 
was  a  most  industrious  and  careful  .housewife, 
making  the  best  use  of  her  time  and  the  meager 
opportunities  within  her  reach,  to  aid  her  husband 
in  all  the  duties  and  trials  of  pioneer  life.  She  was 
skillful  in  the  use  of  the  spinning-wheel  and  loom, 
and  manufactured  a  large  amount  of  cloth.  Be- 
sides supplying  her  own  family  with  clothing,  she 
sold  150  yards  of  jeans  each  year,  during  a  period 
of  twenty-five  years.  Mrs.  Monfort  looked  well  to 
the  ways  of  her  household,  while  her  husband  in- 
vested his  money  in  land,  which  he  cultivated  and 
improved. 

Their  first  abode  was  a  log  cabin,  and  the  rude 
couch  upon  which  they  rested  at  night,  wearied 
with  the  toils  of  the  day,  was  a  bedstead  made  of 
poles,  and  the  cradle  in  which  the  babies  were 
rocked  to  sleep,  was  manufactured  from  a  log  split 
lengthwise  and  hollowed  out.  Their  industry  and 
energy,  however,  were  rewarded  with  success,  and 
in  about  the  year  1 855  the  log  cabin  gave  place  to 
a  comfortable  frame  house.  This  was  subsequently 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1859,  and  Mr.  Monfort  then 
erected  a  substantial  two-story  brick  residence, 
which  was  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  neighborhood. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monfort  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  six  of  whom  are  living,  as  fol- 
lows :  Eliza  Jane,  the  wife  of  J.  D.  Karris,  Sr. ; 
Martha  M.,  the  wife  of  John  P.  Harrah;  William 
H.,  John  N.;  Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  William  R. 
Robinson,  and  Joseph  A.  The  children  were  all 
born  in  Coles  County  with  the  exception  of  the 
eldest. 

Mr.  Monfort  was  very  successful  in  business  and 
became  the  owner  of  nearly  700  acres  of  valuable 
land.  The  family  continued  to  reside  on  the  farm 
until  1  ss;5,  when,  desirous  of  resting  from  the  cares 


of  business,  they  removed  to  the  city  of  Charles- 
ton, to  pass  the  closing  years  of  their  lives  in  the 
enjoyment  of  ease  and  prosperity.  In  June,  1883, 
they  celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  at  which  an- 
niversary nearly  every  member  of  the  family  was 
present,  besides  a  large  circle  of  friends,  who  took 
pleasure  in  offering  their  congratulations,  and  also 
numerous  valuable  presents,  to  a  family  so  beloved 
and  respected.  This  happy  reunion  was  a  fitting 
scene  for  the  closing  years  of  a  long  life  of  honor 
and  usefulness.  Mr.  Monfort  died  Jan.  13,  1885, 
and  his  bereaved  widow  did  not  long  survive  him, 
her  death  occurring  May  13,  1886. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monfort  were  active  in  promoting 
the  moral  and  religious  interests  of  the  community  ; 
they  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in 
which  Mr.  Monfort  was  an  Elder,  and  for  more  than 
forty  years  the  teacher  of  the  Bible  class.  On  his 
removal  from  the  place  the  class  presented  him  with 
a  gold-headed  cane,  in  token  of  their  affection  and 
respect.  In  politics,  Mr.  Monfort  w?.s  an  active 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  for 
some  years  a  prominent  member  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry. 

Tw,  OHN  W.  DOTY,  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate 
containing  155  acres  of  valuable  land  in 
Charleston  Township,  was  born  March  7, 
1832,  in  Lafayette  Township,  Coles  County, 
and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Teel)  Doty. 
(For  history  of  his  parents,  see  sketch  of  James 
Doty.)  He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  re- 
mained at  home,  assisting  his  parents  until  he  was 
twenty-three  years  of  age.  July  12,  1855,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  his  cousin,  Miss  Melinda 
Doty,  the  daughter  of  Levi  and  Matilda  Doty. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  purchased  forty 
acres  of  his  present  farm  and  with  his  young  wife 
moved  into  the  log  cabin,  which  stood  there  await- 
ing its  new  occupants.  Thej'  were  rich  in  courage, 
hope  and  good  health,  if  not  in  this  world's  goods, 
and  happy  in  beginning  the  world  together  ''  for 
better  or  for  worse."  He  subsequently  added  to 
his  farm  as  he  was  prospered  in  business,  until  he 
acquired  his  present  fine  property.  There  were 
some  minor  improvements  on  the  original  purchase, 


^  ' 

t 


COLES    COUNTY. 


365 


and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  acres  of  timber 
land  it  is  now  all  under  good  cultivation,  and  he 
carries  on  an  extensive  business  in  general  fanning. 
His  wife  died  in  1857,  leaving  one  son,  James 
Marion,  who  married  Miss  Emma  Parker,  of  West- 
field,  this  State,  Dec.  24,  1879,  and  to  whom  two 
sons  were  born:  Clarence  A.,  born  Dec.  5,  1880, 
and  Lyman  L.,  April  8,  1880. 

Sept.  1,  1858,  our  subject  was  married  the  second 
time,  to  his  cousin,  Miss  Amanda  Doty,  the  sister  of 
his  first  wife.  Five  children  were  born  to  them, 
only  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  Sylvia  E.,  now 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Monfort,  and  Candiee  A.  Mr. 
Doty  is  interested  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  com- 
munity; he  has  been  School  Director  twenty-five 
years,  and  is  now  serving  his  fourth  term  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
has  always  given  satisfaction  to  the  people  in  the 
discharge  of  his  public  duties. 


CT=7?OLLICOFFER  O'HAIR.  The  subject  of 
the  following  history  has  been  identified  with 
the  farming  interests  of  Central  Illinois  for 
a  period  of  twenty-three  years,  and  has  assisted  in 
building  up  a  homestead  creditable  to  himself  as 
an  industrious  and  enterprising  agriculturist,  while 
it  has  also  added  greatly  to  the  farming  interests 
of  this  section,  and  enters  largely  into  the  embel- 
lishment of  the  rural  district.  He  assists  in  carrying 
on  the  home  farm  for  his  mother.  Mr.  O'Hair  was 
born  on  the  homestead,  Oct.  5,  1863,  whence  his 
parents  removed  shortly  afterward  to  Simms  Town- 
ship, five  miles  south  of  Paris,  in  Edgar  County, 
where  they  remained  about  seven  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  they  came  back,  remaining  three 
years,  and  then  returned  to  PZdgar  County,  residing 
there  three  years,  finally  returning  to  the  homestead 
where  they  still  live. 

James  Sylvester  O'Hair,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ky..  Aug.  22. 
1822.  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  State  when 
a  small  boy.  He  was  the  eldest  of  their  ten  chil- 
dren, and  when  coming  here  the  country  was  practi- 
cally unsettled.  His  father  entered  a  tract  of  land 
from  the  Government,  but  on  account  of  ill-health, 


not  long  afterward  sold  out  and  took  possession  of 
a  tract  which  had  been  partially  cultivated,  remov- 
ing with  his  family  into  one  of  the  first  houses  built 
in  the  township  and  which  was  replaced  by  the 
present  more  modern  dwelling.  He  was  first  mar- 
ried July  5,  1846,  to  Miss  Minerva  Ann  Ellidge, 
of  Kentucky,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
children,  namely,  Sylvanus  S.,  who  died  Nov.  22. 
1876;  Arminta  Ellen,  a  resident  of  this  county, 
and  Cynthelia  Jane,  who  lives  in  Clark  County,  111. ; 
she  is  the  wife  of  Mahlun  Beunst.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  of  typhoid  fever,  Dec.  8,  1860. 
Mr.  O'Hair  was  again  married,  April  18,  1861,  to 
Miss  Polly  Ann  Frazier.  a  native  of  Clark  County, 
111.,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated.  Her  father, 
Thomas  Frazier.  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  married 
in  carty  manhood  to  Miss  Anna  Stark,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  nine  children,  three  sons  and 
six  daughters,  as  follows:  Louisa  M.,  John,  James 
William,  Polly  Ann,  Catherine,  Emily  Jane.  Re- 
becca E.,  Emetine  and  Thomas  R. 

Of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O'Hair  there 
were  born  three  children,  namely,  Zollicoffer,  Will- 
iam Pierce  and  James  Frazier.  William  is  farming 
near  Eureka,  Kan.,  and  James  is  occupied  on  the 
home  farm  with  his  brother,  our  subject.  This  is 
the  property  of  Mrs.  O'Hair,  and  the  boys  live 
with  their  mother  and  assist  her  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  farm.  The  father  died  at  their  farm 
in  Edgar  County,  111..  April  16,  1875,  at  8  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  He  is  buried  in  the  old  family 
graveyard  on  his  father's  homestead.  Mr.  Zollicof- 
fer O'Hair  met  with  a  serious  accident  on  the  5th 
of  April,  1887,  having  his  leg  broken  just  above 
the  ankle  which  laid  him  up  for  some  time,  but 
from  which  he  now  bids  fair  to  recover. 


JOSEPH  A.  MONFORT  is  the  youngest  son 
of  I.  J.  Monfort,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume,  and  resides  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township. 

He  is  one  of  the  rising  young  men  of  the  county, 

and   well  represents  an  old-  and  honorable  family. 

He  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  was  born  Jan. 

22,   1850.     He    was    reared    on    his  father's  farm, 


366 


COLES   COUNTY. 


where  he  learned  the  practical  details  of  systematic 
farming,  and  also  received  an  excellent  education 
at  the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  at 
Lee's  Academy. 

Mr.  Monfort  was  married,  March  7,  1878,  to  Miss 
Sylvia  E.  Doty.  Mrs.  Monfort  is  the  daughter  of 
John  W.  and  Amanda  Doty,  and  is  likewise  a  na- 
tive of  Coles  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monfort  have 
one  child,  a  beautiful  daughter  named  Candice. 
He  is  the  owner  of  210  acres  of  land,  and  carries 
on  a  successful  business  in  agriculture. 


TIOMAS  T.  SHOEMAKER,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  farmers  and  stock-growers  of 
Humbolt  Township,  has  a  fine  estate  located 
on  section  24,  of,  which  he  has  been  in  possession 
since  the  spring  of  1879.  His  property  consists  of 
a  handsome  and  substantial  residence,  and  all  the 
out-buildings  required  by  the  progressive  and  in- 
telligent agriculturist.  The  fields  are  conveniently 
laid  off,  enclosed  with  good  fencing,  and  the  out- 
buildings are  finely  adapted  for  the  storing  of  grain 
and  the  shelter  of  stock. 

Mr.  Shoemaker  usually  keeps  about  seventy-five 
head  of  Short-horn  cattle,  which  include  calves, 
cows  and  breeding  bulls,  comprising  one  of  the 
finest  herds  in  this  section  of  the  country,  all  the 
animals  which  are  of  the  required  age  being  regis- 
tered in  the  American  Herd  Book.  At  the  head  is 
"  Antiquarian,"  a  two-year-old,  who  with  his  mate 
"  Acklen  Geneva"  (Rose  of  Sharon),  form  a  couple 
of  which  their  owner  is  proud.  Mr.  S.  has  100 
head  of  Poland-China  hogs  and  the  same  number 
of  fine  wool  Southdown  sheep,  acd  in  both  depart- 
ments has  distinguished  himself  as  a  breeder  of 
more  than  ordinary  success.  He  also  feeds  cattle 
to  a  considerable  extent,  and  each  year  ships  a  car- 
load of  choice  animals  to  the  Eastern  markets. 
The  farm  of  Mr.  Shoemaker  embraces  632  acres  of 
valuable  land  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  He  is 
provided  with  the  latest  and  most  improved  ma- 
chinery, and  has  five  fine  barns  which  are  all  util- 
ized in  the  shelter  of  his  grain  and  stock.  The 
water  necessary  on  so  large  an  estate  is  carried  to 


the  places  required  by  a  force  pump,  operated  by 
wind  power. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  in  Lafayette  Township,  Sept.  14, 
1847,  and  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Martha  (Woods) 
Shoemaker.  His  parents  were  natives  respectively 
of  North  Carolina  and  Kentucky.  Samuel  Shoe- 
maker was  born  in  1812.  and  removed  from  his 
native  State  with  his  parents  when  a  small  boy  to 
Virginia,  where  he  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
until  reaching  manhood.  He  came  to  this  comity 
in  1 834,  locating  on  a  farm  near  Charleston,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  citizens 
of  this  locality,  esteemed  as  much  for  his  kindness 
of  heart  as  for  his  admirable  business  qualities. 
He  departed  this  life  at  his  home  in  Lafa3'ette 
Township  in  December,  1867,  amid  the  universal 
regret  of  the  community.  The  mother  had  pre- 
ceeded  her  husband  to  the  silent  laud,  her  death 
taking  place  in  1863,  when  she  was  forty-five  years 
of  age,  having  been  born  in  1818. 

Thomas  Shoemaker  was  the  fourth  of  a  family 
of  six  children,  his  brothers  and  one  sister  being 
Franklin,  James  O.,  Lilburn  D.,  Mary  and  Charles. 
He  spent  his  early  years  on  the  farm  of  his  parents, 
and  when  twenty-four  years  of  age  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Emma  Reat.  Their  wedding 
occurred  at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents  in 
Charleston  Township.  Aug.  31,  1871.  Mrs.  Shoe- 
maker is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  Oct.  18, 
1850,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Sarali 
(Liuder)  Reat,  natives  respectively  of  Ohio  and 
Virginia.  Mr.  R.  came  to  this  county  in  1837,  and 
engaged  in  farming  on  the  homestead  where  his 
death  took  place  in  1883.  The  mother  makes  her 
home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoemaker.  Our  subject 
and  his  wife  have  become  the  parents  of  seven 
children — Estella,  Harry  R.,  Theodora,  John  E., 
Joseph  T.,  Katie,  and  an  infant  who  died  un- 
named. 

As  an  important  factor  of  the  agricultural  com- 
munity, Mr.  Shoemaker  has  been  identified  with  its 
interests  for  many  years,  serving  as  President  of 
the  Coles  County  Agricultural  Board,  and  giving 
his  experience  and  influence  for  the  benefit  of  his 
co-laborers  in  a  field  whose  success  largely  influ- 
ences the  welfare  of  the  entire  country.  Both  he 


V 


COLES   COUNTY. 


307 


\ 


and  his  estimable  wife  are  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Wesley  Chapel,  and 
socially,  Mr.  S.  belongs  to  Elwood  Lodge  No.  299, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.  His  homestead  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive  spots  in  the  landscape  of  this  county, 
and  forms  no  unimportant  adjunct  to  its  reputation 
and  prosperity. 


i  EV.  SILAS  WHITE,  who  for  the  last  thirty- 
five  years  has  worthily  officiated  as  a  min- 
ister of  the  Church  of  God,  in  connection 
)  with  agricultural  pursuits,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Charleston,  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
this  section  as  an  individual  possessing  all  the  ele- 
ments of  a  kindly  Christian  character,  whose  days 
have  been  filled  with  industry  and  usefulness.  He 
is  now  passing  down  the  hill  of  life — a  life  that  has 
had  many  sorrows,  but  has  also  held  many  joys  and 
pleasures.  His  history,  briefly  narrated,  is  in  sub- 
stance as  follows: 

Mr.  White  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ind., 
March  3,  1818.  and  is  the  son  of  Asa  and  Polly 
(Lewis)  White,  natives  respectively  of  North  Car- 
olina and  Kentucky.  The  parents  were  married  in 
the  Blue  Grass  State  and  not  long  afterward  be- 
came residents  of  Indiana,  being  among  the  first 
settlers  of  \Vayne  County,  where  they  engaged  in 
farming  pursuits.  In  1840  they  set  out  for  Illi- 
nois, and  coming  to  this  county  the  elder  White 
rented  a  tract  of  land  which  he  occupied  until  1861. 
He  then  removed  to  Douglas  County,  where  his 
death  took  place  during  the  war.  Both  parents 
were  devoted  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and 
reared  a  family  of  eight  children. 

Rev.  Silas  White  was  reared  on  the  farm,  receiv- 
ing such  education  as  is  afforded  in  the  district 
school,  and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
seventeen  years  of  age.  His  father  then  gave  him 
his  time,  and  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  in  connection  with  farming,  and 
gave  to  his  father  a  portion  of  his  earnings.  He 
thus  followed  the  life  of  an  exemplar}'  and  dutiful 
son,  and  when  twenty-two  years  of  age  took  the 
first  step  toward  establishing  a  home  and  domestic 
ties  of  his  own.  This  was  his  marriage  with  Miss 


Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Solomon  Boone,  and  whom  it 
is  supposed  was  the  grairl  -niece  of  the  famous 
Kentuckian,  Daniel  Boone,  who  so  delighted  in 
fighting  the  Indians  during  the  pioneer  days.  Mrs. 
White  was  born  at  Pickaway  Plains,  Ohio,  in  about 
1822.  - 

After  their  marriage  the  young  people  located 
upon  a  farm  in  Wayne  County  which  our  subject 
rented  for  one  year,  and  from  which  he  removed  in 
1842,  to  this  county.  Here  he  entered  120  acres 
in  Hutton  Township,  and  having  saved  quite  a 
sum  of  money  from  his  former  earnings,  was  en- 
abled to  purchase  the  land  when  it  came  into  mar- 
ket. He  occupied  this  until  the  spring  of  1844,  in 
the  meantime  laying  off  the  grain  fields  and  pasture 
lands,  building  neat  and  substantial  fences,  and  im- 
proving the  property  with  good  farm  buildings. 
Upon  the  homestead  thus  established  he  continued 
a  resident  for  over  forty  years,  and  was  then  ad- 
monished by  declining  strength  that  he  must  rest. 
He  accordingly  rented  his  farm,  and  purchasing  a 
snug  home  at  Charleston,  repaired  to  it  with  his 
estimable  wife.  Mr.  White  added  to  his  first  pur- 
chase of  land  until  he  became  the  possessor  of  250 
acres,  which  constitutes  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
that  section  of  country. 

The  children  of  Rev.  Silas  and  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
White  included  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  of 
whom  only  two  sons  survive.  The  elder  of  these, 
Monroe,  married  Miss  Mary  Hall,  and  they  have 
six  daughters — Sarah  F.,  Hannah  A.,  Millie  H., 
Lucy  E.,  Sarah  J.  and  Charity  E.  Isaac  married 
Miss  Josephine  Sandoe,  and  is  the  father  of  three 
children — Zat'cheus  Boone,  Emma  M.  and  Effie  E. 

When  Mr.  White  caine  to  this  county  he  settled 
in  the  timber,  and  the  howling  of  wolves  and 
panthers  was  often  heard  in  the  night  around  their 
cabin  home.  There  were  plenty  of  deer  and  wild 
turkey,  and  the  family  always  enjoyed  the  luxury 
of  wild  meat.  The  first  dwelling  was  a  hewed-log 
house,  22x18  feet,  which  was  well  built  and  consid- 
ered very  fine  for  those  days. ,  Of  this  Mr.  White 
was  the  main  carpenter  and  builder,  getting  out  his 
lumber  by  means  of  a  whip-saw,  by  which  he  also 
manufactured  his  flooring,  doors  and  window  cas- 
ings. The  next  business  was  to  clear  the  ground 
around  it,  and  the  first  year  he  succeeded  in  get- 


i 


,  .    368 


COLES   COUNTY. 


ting  ten  acres  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  The 
next  spring  he  put  in  a  crop  of  corn  and  wheat,  the 
former  of  which  brought  but  fifteen  cents  per 
bushel  and  the  latter  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents. 
He  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way  thus  year 
after  year,  welcoming  with  pleasure  the  little  faces 
that  came  one  by  one  to  the  household  circle,  and 
bending  with  sorrow  over  the  many  graves  which 
contained  the  forms  of  his  loved  ones,  most  of 
whom  died  in  early  childhood. 

Mr.  White  commenced  his  labors  as  a  Christian 
minister  in  1850,  and  was  ordained  two  years  later. 
He  often  recalls  the  time  when  lie  traveled  through 
the  country  from  one  appointment  to  another,  and 
the  kindly  manner  in  which  he  was  treated  by  the 
pioneers,  who,  living  partially  isolated,  were  always 
rejoiced  to  welcome  the  face  of  a  friend.  He  re- 
ceived a  rich  reward  for  his  labors  in  witnessing 
the  salvation  of  souls,  and  was  the  humble  instru- 
ment in  turning  many  from  the  errors  of  their 
ways.  For  these  services  he  required  not  money, 
glad  if  lie  could  accomplish  something  for  the 
Master,  and  now  while  nearing  the  close  of  a  long 
and  useful  life  he  has  the  satisfaction  of  being  able 
to  look  back  upon  his  years  as  well  spent,  and  upon 
a  life  which  has  not  been  in  vain. 


S.  McDONALD,  manufacturer  of 
tile  and  brick  near  Lerna,  is  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  and  an 
honorable  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  Illinois.  He  is  the  son  of  Rev.  John  and 
Nancy  (Means)  McDonald,  and  was  born  Aug.  1, 
1849,  in  this  county.  Rev.  John  McDonald  was 
born  near  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  and  in  early  manhood 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  studied  theology,  and 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  At  an  early  day.  in  about  1830,  he  be- 
came oneof  the  pioneer  ministers  of  Illinois,  count- 
ing it  no  loss  in  the  service  of  the  Master  to  leave 
behind  all  the  comforts  of  civilization,  and  en- 
counter the  hard,  rough  life  of  an  early  settler  on 
the  Western  frontier.  The  temples  of  worship  at 
that  period  were  usually  the  log  cabins,  used  as 
school-houses;  these  were  used  as  chapels  during 


the  winter  season,  and  in  the  summer  time  divine 
worship  was  held  in  the  groves,  arched  by  the  blue 
dome  of  heaven. 

Mr.  McDonald  was  untiring  in  the  work  of  pro- 
moting the  cause  of  Christ  in  the  wilderness;  he 
preached  at  Urbana,  Charleston,  Paris,  and  had 
charge  of  many  minor  points,  establishing  churches 
wherever  it  was  practicable.  As  nearly  all  of  the 
settlers  at  that  time  were  poor,  the  pioneer  minister 
was  obliged  to  provide  for  his  own  necessities,  and 
like  St.  Paul,  who  was  engaged  in  tent-making  as 
well  as  preaching  the  Gospel,  Mr.  McDonald  en- 
tered land  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  and  has 
by  his  industry  and  energy  made  a  comfortable 
home  for  himself,  at  the  same  time  pursuing  earn- 
estly his  work  in  the  ministry,  to  which  cause  his 
time  and  talents  were  devoted  until  old  age.  Mr. 
McDonald  was  interested  in  all  the  vital  questions 
of  the  period  in  which  he  lived,  being  earnest  and 
pronounced  in  his  opposition  to  slavery,  and  never 
hesitating  to  express  his  views  on  that  subject.  He 
was  a  loyal  and  conscientious  citizen,  and  always 
attended  the  general  elections,  easting  his  ballot  in 
favor  of  such  measures  as  his  judgment  deemed 
right. 

Mr.  McDonald  was  called  home  from  his  earthly 
labors  in  1866,  having  reached  the  age  of  sixty-nine 
years.  His  wife  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio, 
but  her  parents  had  removed  to  Illinois  at  an  early 
day,  and  her  marriage  took  place  in  Edgar  Count}'. 
She  was  a  faithful,  devoted  wife,  and  a  true  compan- 
ion to  her  husband  in  his  life-work  of  self-sacrifice 
and  toil.  Her  death  occurred  in  1880  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  3*ears.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  McDonald  were 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  at- 
tained maturity.  The  following  is  their  family 
record:  William  N.,  deceased;  Mary  E.,  the  wife 
of  Rev.  R.  G.  Ross;  Eliza,  the  wife  of  George 
Coen;  Ann,  the  wife  of  Hon.  Joseph  Ewing:  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  John  Paisley ;  Newell  S.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  R.  L.  Ew- 
ing; Chalmers  and  John.  William  N.  was  a  volun- 
teer in  the  Civil  War,  and  served  as  First  Lieuten- 
ant of  Co.  I,  123d  III.  Vol.  Inf.,  until  the  close  of 
the  war. 

Newell  S.  McDonald  was  reared  on  the  farm, 
affording  his  father  assistance  during  his  boyhood,  <  • 


•VB 


COLES   COUNTY. 


369 


and  receiving  such  education  as  the  common 
schools  at  that  early  day  afforded.  He  was  thought- 
ful and  intelligent,  making  the  best  use  of  his  lim- 
ited advantages,  and  was  subsequently  a  graduate 
of  Lee's  Academy  at  Indian  Point.  In  the  autumn 
of  1869  he  left  the  farm,  and  for  a  period  of  five 
years  was  a  faithful  and  trusted  clerk  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Wabash  Railroad  Company,  at  Attica, 
Ind.  On  account  of  failing  health  he  was  then 
obliged  to  relinquish  his  position,  and  accordingly 
returned  to  Coles  County,  and  engaged  in  farming 
and  grain-dealing.  However,  the  five  years  of  his 
residence  at  Attica  proved  an  important  epoch  in 
his  life,  for  he  there  made  the  acquantance  of  his 
future  wife,  Miss  Mattie  Love.  Their  marriage 
took  place  Dec.  23,  1873.  Mrs.  McDonald  is  the 
daughter  of  Calvin  and  Abigail  Love,  and  was  born 
in  Miami  County,  Ind.,  May  25,  1853.  Left  an 
orphan  at  ran  early  age  she  was  reared  by  kind 
friends,  and  when  a  young  girl  of  seventeen, 
learned  the  art  of  telegraphy,  at  Peru,  Ind.,  not 
wishing  to  be  dependent  longer  upon  others  for  sup- 
port, and  subsequently  became  the  operator  at  At- 
tica. She  is  an  accomplished  lady,  an  affectionate 
wife  and  devoted  mother.  Their  family  consists  of 
four  interesting  children — Nellie,  Charles,  Louis 
and  Birdie. 

In  1882  Mr.  McDonald  engaged  in  his  present 
enterprise,  which  proved  successful,  and  as  the 
business  increased  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
brother,  John  T..  under  the  firm  name  of  McDon- 
ald Bros.  Mr.  McDonald  owns  a  well-improved 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  on  which  he  resides,  and  in 
politics  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party,  having  served  five  terms  as  Supervisor  of  the 
township,  and  performing  his  public  duties  credita- 
bly to  himself,  and  giving  general  satisfaction  to 
his  constituents.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and 
by  a  dispensation  from  the  Grand  Master  of  the 
State,  his  lodge  elected  him  Master  before  he  had 
ever  served  as  Warden,  a  distinction  rarely  con- 
ferred. Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDonald  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church.  They  are  courteous 
and  hospitable  in  their  home,  which  is  supplied  with 
all  the  comforts  of  life,  and  are  deeply  interested 
in  the  education  of  their  children,  in  whom  they 
may  justly  take  great  pride. 


IN.  GIBBS,  proprietor  of  a  flourishing  sale  and 
livery  stable  at  Mattoon,  is  a  gentleman  in  the 
prime  of  life,  and  carrying  on  a  successful  busi- 
ness. He  has  been  buying  horses  and  mules  since 
1861,  shipping  to  the  Eastern  markets,  besides  to 
New  Orleans,  La.,  and  Natchez,  Miss.  He  has 
dealt  largely  in  horses  for  cavalry  and  artillery  use, 
and  is  an  excellent  judge  of  this  noblest  of  animals. 

Mr.  Gibbs  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in 
Pleasant  Grove  Township,  Jan.  8,  1841,  and  is  the 
son  of  Homer  and  Laura  (Meedham)  Gibbs,  natives 
of  Kentucky,  who  came  to  this  State  before  their 
marriage,  their  wedding  taking  place  in  this  county. 
The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject,  Elijah 
and  Elizabeth  Gibbs,  were  natives  of  Virginia, 
whence  the  former  removed  at  an  early  day  to 
Ohio,  and  from  there  to  Illinois  in  about  1825.  He 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War,  holding  a 
Captain's  commission,  and  afterward  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  this  county,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  being  located  near  the 
Kickapoo  Church,  about  seven  miles  southeast  of 
Mattoon. 

Homer  Gibbs  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  early 
in  life,  but  afterward  engaged  in  farming,  and  de- 
parted this  life  at  his  home  in  the  spring  of  1879. 
The  mother's  death  took  place  seven  years  previ- 
ous, in  1872.  The  parental  household  included 
nine  children,  eight  living:  I.  N.,  of  our  sketch,  and 
his  brother  John  M.  (twins),  William,  Elijah; 
Catherine,  Mrs.  Ferryman,  of  Missouri;  Margaret, 
Mrs.  Edson,  of  Missouri;  Elizabeth  and  Martin,  of 
Memphis,  Tenn.  The  parents  were  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  in  which  the  father  was  an 
Elder.  He  was  prominent  in  the  local  affairs  of  his 
township,  and  Supervisor  while  living  in  Moultrie 
County. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  spent  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  the  rural  community,  receiving  a 
practical  education  in  the  district  school.  He  re- 
mained a  member  of  the  parental  household  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  then  coming  to  Mat- 
toon  engaged  in  the  livery  business,  in  which  he  was 
successful  from  the  first,  and  now  has  the  largest 
stable  in  the  city.  This  covers  an  area  of  107^x55 
feet,  and  is  a  brick  structure,  erected  in  1871. 
The  greater  part  of  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  eight 


f 


i 


370 


COLES   COUNTY. 


years  later,  involving  a  loss  to  Mr.  Gibbs  of  $1,200 
beyond  the  insurance.  He  recovered  from  this 
disaster,  however,  and  besides  his  rolling  stock  and 
fifteen  to  thirty  horses,  has  a  fine  farm  embracing 
220  acres  in  Monltrie  County. 

Mr.  Gibbs  was  married  in  Moultrie  County,  111., 
in  1862,  to  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Joseph  H.  and 
Orena  (Davis)  Munson.  Mrs.  G.  was  born  in  the 
latter-named  county.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Kentucky  and  early  settlers  of  Moultrie  County, 
where  they  engaged  the  greater  part  of  their  lives 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  They  are  now  deceased. 


LBERT  H.  HUCKABA,  proprietor  of  134 
acres  of  good  land  on  section  7,  Charles- 
ton  Township,  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  over  thirty  years,  coming  here 
when  a  youth  of  seventeen.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
Prairie  State,  and  was  born  in  Clark  County,  Feb. 
21,  1835.  His  parents,  Lewis  and  Margaret  J. 
(Evans)  Huckaba.  were  natives  of  North  Carolina, 
whence  they  removed  after  their  marriage  to 
Orange  Count}',  Ind.,  at  an  early  period  in  the  set- 
tlement of  that  region.  They  did  not  tarry  there 
long,  however,  but  soon  afterward  came  to  Illinois, 
locating  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Clark  County,  where 
they  were  engaged  industriously  in  building  up  a 
home  for  themselves  and  their  children,  and  where 
they  remained  for  a  period  of  thirty-five  years. 
The  death  of  both  took  place  near  Martinsville, 
and  they  left  quite  a  valuable  estate,  which  was  di- 
vided among  their  children.  Of  these  there  were 
nine,  namely,  Miles;  Nancy,  the  wife  of  John  Brad- 
bury; Lucinda,  now  the  widow  of  Robert  Landon; 
Clariuda,  the  wife  of  S.  Spraker,  deceased ;  Rachel, 
the  wife  of  Morris  Meeker,  of  Clark  County,  111. ; 
Martha,  the  wife  of  A.  C.  Landon;  Lewis  R;.  a 
member  of  the  5(Jth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  who  died 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  from  wounds  received  in  bat- 
tle, and  Alfred,  who  has  been  connected  with  the 
Medical  Institute  at  Indianapolis  for  a  period  of 
twenty-five  years. 

The  subject  of  this  history,  in  common  with  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  received  a  common-school 
education,  and  followed  railroading  from  1852  to 


1854.  He  was  married  in  the  spring  of  the  latter 
year  to  Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Lum- 
brick,  the  wedding  taking  place  at  the  home  of  the 
bride  in  Charleston  Township.  Mrs.  H.  is  also  a 
native  of  this  county.  After  their  marriage  the 
young  people  located  first  in  Charleston  Township, 
and  two  years  later  Mr.  Huckaba  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  laud  there,  to  which  he  subsequently  added 
until  he  became  the  owner  of  134  acres.  He  has 
given  forty  acres  each  to  two  children  and  has 
fifty-four  left.  His  land  was  unimproved  when  he 
took  possession  of  it,  but  is  now  under  a  good  state 
of  cultivation  and  supplied  with  substantial  frame 
buildings.  A  view  of  the  place  is  shown  on  another 
page  of  this  work. 

The  children  born  to  our  subject  and  wife  are 
Samuel  L.,  James  A.  ;  Ida  M.,  the  wife  of  Alex 
Conley;  Daniel,  B.  M.,  Margaret  E.,  Dora  E.,  Al- 
bert O.,  Edward  O.  and  Clarence  H.  The  parents 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Mr.  H.  has  served  as  Assessor  ten  terms,  and  has 
also  officiated  as  Constable  and  Deputy  Sheriff.  He 
is  an  uncompromising  Democrat,  politically,  and 
has  unswerving  faith  in  the  correctness  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  his  party. 


OHN  RUTHERFORD,  sou  of  one  of  the  old 
and  honored  pioneers  of  East  Oakland 
,  Township,  is  Cashier  of  the  Oakland  Na- 
'((g;//  tional  Bank,  and  a  gentleman  of  good  busi- 
ness abilities,  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  and 
occupying  a  good  position  among  the  people  who 
have  known  him  since  a  boy.  Oakland  is  his 
native  town,  and  the  date  of  his  birth  June  21, 
1844.  His  parents  were  Hiram  and  Lucinda 
(Bowman)  Rutherford,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  father  was  born  Dec.  27,  1815. 

Mr.  Rutherford  remained  a  member  of  the 
parental  household  until  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  and  after  completing  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  embarked  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Oakland,  in  which  he  was  employed  for  five 
years,  and  then  becoming  a  stockholder  and  Direc- 
tor of  the  Oakland  National  Bank,  was  elected  Cash- 
ier, and  has  held  the  position  since  1874.  He  was 


COLES   COUNTY. 


371 


married,  April  4,  1882,  to  Miss  Kate  Nash,  a  native 
of  Rappaliannock  County,  Va.,  and  born  Sept. 
2,  1844.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Susan 
(Nethers)  Nash,  both  also  natives  of  the  Old 
Dominion.  Henry  Nash  was  born  in  1795,  and 
died  in  his  native  State  in  1852.  Mrs.  Rutherford 
was  the  youngest  of  her  father's  family,  he  having 
been  married  three  times.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
R.  was  his  second  wife,  and  was  formerly  Mrs. 
Nethers.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  John, 
Henry  C.  and  Kate.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rutherford  are  Eva  L.,  born  June  16,  1883, 
and  Hiram  J.,  Jan.  27,  1887. 

Our  subject  and  wife  occupy  a  fine  residence  in 
the  village,  and  Mrs.  Rutherford  is  a  member  in 
good  standing  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr. 
R.  has  been  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity 
for  a  period  of  eighteen  years,  and  has  1'epresented 
the  fraternity  in  the  Grand  Lodge  at  Chicago 
many  times.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican  of  the 
first  water,  and  both  in  business  and  social  circles 
is  held  in  high  regard  by  the  best  people  of  Oakland. 
He  fulfills  the  duties  of  his  responsible  position 
with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  all  con- 
cerned. 


H.  RECORD,  a  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Record  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  drain 
tiling,  is  one  of  the  prominent  business 
men  of  the  county,  and  a  leading  citizen 
of  Charleston.  The  history  of  his  life  is  specially 
instructive,  inasmuch  as  it  throws  some  light  upon 
the  vexed  question  of  "  how  to  get  on  in  the 
world."  Mr.  Record  shrewdly  foresaw  the  demands 
for  tiling  in  the  present  improved  methods  of  farm- 
ing, and  ingeniously  turned  his  attention  to  its 
manufacture.  To  be  able  to  discern  the  golden 
opportunity  leading  to  success,  and  to  grasp  it  at 
once,  is  a  rare  faculty,  and  one  much  to  be  desired. 
S.  H.  Record  is  the  son  of  William  S.  and  Mar- 
tha (Said)  Record,  and  was  born  Dec.  16,  1847, 
near  Falmouth,  Ky.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Tennessee  and  his  mother  of  Ohio,  their  marriage 
taking  place  about  1840,  in  Kentucky,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming.  In  1857  they  removed 
from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  and  purchased  a  farm  in 


this  township,  where  they  passed  the  closing  years 
of  life.  His  father  retired  from  active  business  in 
1863,  and  resided  in  Charleston  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1868.  His  mother  died  in  1864. 
Their  family  comprised  nine  children. 

S.  H.  Record  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm, 
receiving  a  practical  education,  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  He  had  been  trained  to  no 
special  trade  or  profession,  and  after  leaving  the 
home  roof,  engaged  for  a  time  in  whatever  employ- 
ment he  could  procure.  In  1871  he  was  employed 
as  clerk  in  the  drug-store  of  Andrew  Moore  of 
this  city,  and  remained  in  the  business  six  years. 
In  1877,  in  company  with  his  wife  and  sister,  he 
embarked  in  his  present  manufacturing  enterprise, 
commencing  in  a  small  way.  Their  works,  which 
consisted  of  one  kiln  and  a  building  20x80  feet, 
were  located  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  city. 
The  business  has  proved  very  successful,  and  they 
now  operate  four  kilns;  their  buildings  are  30x500 
feet  and  they  employ  fifteen  men  in  the  works, 
turning  out  $15,000  worth  of  stock  per  annum, 
half  of  which  is  shipped,  and  a  ready  market  is 
found  for  the  remainder  in  the  vicinity  of  Charles- 
ton within  a  radius  of  eight  miles. 

In  1874  Mr.  Record  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lizzie  Emerson,  the  daughter  of  Judge 
Charles  and  Nancy  (Herrold)  Emerson,  of  Decatur. 
They  have  an  interesting  family  of  seven  children, 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  May,  Clara,  Myrtle, 
Frank,  Lou,  Belle  and  Florence.  Mr.  Record  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  of  the  Knights  of  Honor. 


>ILLIAM  A.  G1LMER,  who,  with  his  fam- 
ily, resides  on  section  8,  in  North  Okaw 
Township,  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  for  the  last  seventeen  years.  His  first 
recollections  are  of  Russell  County,  Va.,  where  his 
birth  took  place  April  22,  1843.  His  father  and 
grandfather  had  always  been  residents  of  that 
region,  where  both  were  born.  The  latter  spent 
his  entire  life  in  Russell  County  engaged  in  farming 
pursuits,  and  departed  this  life  the  same  year  that 
our  subject  was  born.  He  was  three  times  married. 


I 


f 


372 


COLES  COUNTY. 


The  first  wife  became  the  mother  of  six  children, 
and  after  her  death,  Grandfather  Gilraer  made  a 
division  of  his  land  among  his  four  sons,  giving 
the  daughters  their  portion  of  the  property  in  hard 
cash.  lie  was  at  that,  time  the  owner  of  1,440 
acres  of  land  and  a  large  number  of  slaves.  Of 
his  second  marriage  there  were  born  five  children, 
and  at  the  death  of  his  second  wife  he  made 
another  division  of  his  property,  thus  wisely  settling 
his  estate  so  there  could  be  nothing  for  his  heirs  to 
quarrel  over.  Of  his  third  marriage  there  were  no 
children.  His  son  William,  by  the  first  wife,  be- 
came a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Isaac,  the  third  child,  became  the  father 
of  our  subject. 

Isaac  Gilmer  was  born  in  Russell  County,  Va., 
in  December,  1800.  He  was  educated  in  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  his  native  county  and  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  the  death  of  his 
mother.  He  received  for  his  share  of  the  property 
the  home  farm,  the  father  removing  to  another 
part  of  the  county.  Isaac  Gilmer  did  not  marry 
until  forty  years  of  age,  and  then  took  for  his  wife 
Miss  Mary  Hendricks,  their  wedding  taking  place 
in  the  spring  of  1840.  Mrs.  Gilmer  was  also  born 
in  Russell  County,  Va.,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
Anderson  and  Elizabeth  (Scott)  Hendricks.  Isaac 
Gilmer  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  homestead  where 
he  was  born,  his  death  taking  place  in  1876.  The 
mother  still  lives  and  occupies  the  old  homestead. 
She  is  now  well  advanced  in  years  and  has  retained 
her  mental  faculties  remarkably.  For  many  years 
she  has  been  an  active  and  devoted  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  twelve  children 
born  of  the  parental  union  were:  Martha,  Will- 
iam A.,  of  our  sketch;  Elizabeth;  James  K.  P.,  who 
died  when  nine  years  of  age;  Anderson,  Thomas, 
Mary,  Rebecca,  Isaac  A.,  Annie,  George  and  Carrie. 
All  are  residents  of  the  Old  Dominion  with  the  ex- 
ception of  our  subject  and  his  sister  Mary ;  the 
latter  is  the  wife  of  McCagha  Philips,  and  resides 
in  Kansas.  Three  of  the  daughters  are  at  home 
with  their  mother. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  county  and  remained  with  his  parents 
until  eighteen  years  of  age.  Then,  upon  the  out- 
break of  the  Rebellion,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  29th 


Va.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  command  of  Gen.  Longstreet, 
serving  three  years  and  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
Afterward  he  returned  to  his  father's  house  and 
assisted  in  the  farm  work  on  the  homestead  until 
the  fall  of  1867.  He  then  turned  his  steps  north- 
westward, and  taking  up  his  residence  in  North 
Okaw  Township,  this  county,  worked  one  year  by 
the  month.  He  was  married  in  September,  1870, 
to  Mrs.  Emeline  Stewart,  who  was  born  in  this 
county,  Nov.  28,  1838,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Jane  (Jesse)  Fuller.  Her  parents  were 
born  in  Russell  County,  Va.,  her  father  April  1, 
1792,  and  her  mother  April  19,  1796.  They  were 
reared  in  their  native  county  and  married  there 
Jan.  20,  1814.  Eighteen  years  later  they  emi- 
grated to  this  State,  and  taking  up  their  residence 
in  North  Okaw  Township,  continued  here  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fuller  were  people  who  enjoyed 
the  highest  respects  of  the  community  and  were 
among  the  warmest  supporters  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Henry  Fuller  was  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  several  years,  and  took  a  genuine  in- 
terest in  the  various  enterprises  having  for  their 
object  the  welfare  and  progress  of  the  people  at 
large.  The  household  circle  included  eleven  chil- 
dren, namely,  Samuel,  Rebecca,  Mary,  Abraham, 
Catherine,  Nancy,  Archer,  Wilson  V.,  Leah,  David 
H.  and  Emeliue.  With  the  exception  of  Mrs. 
Gilmer,  all  were  born  in  Virginia.  All  lived  to 
years  of  maturity,  but  only  three  are  now  living — 
Nancy,  Leah  and  Emeline.  At  the  time  of  her 
marriage  with  our  subject  Mrs.  Gilmer  owned 
ninety  acres  of  land  and  a  set  Of  farm  buildings 
which  she  occupied,  and  which  had  been  the 
property  of  her  second  husband  and  her  father's 
estate.  She  was  first  married  to  Milton  Jackson, 
of  Coles  County,  and  became  the  mother  of  four 
children — Henry  B.,  Samuel  J.,  William  W.  and 
Milton  M.  Her  second  husband  was  Anderson 
Stewart;  of  this  union  there  were  no  children. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilmer  presents  a 
picture  of  plenty  and  comfort.  The  residence, 
which  is  a  substantial  frame  structure,  and  a  view 
of  which  is  presented  in  this  work,  stands  back 
from  the  road  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  natural  grove, 
which  affords  delightful  shade  in  the  summer  and  a 


COLES   COUNTY. 


373 


shelter  from  the  cold  winds  of  winter.  The  house- 
hold has  been  brightened  by  the  birth  of  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Mary  .T.  was  born  July  19, 
1872;  Nancy  C.,  Feb.  14,  1874;  Charles  II.,  born 
Oct.  "21,  1876,  died  Jan.  9,1879;  Emma  M.  was 
born  Nov.  2,  1878,  and  Albert  R.  A.,  Nov.  10, 
1883.  Mr.  Gilmer  is  a  stanch  adherent  to  the 
Democratic  party,  has  represented  his  township  in 
the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  two  terms,  has 
been  Assessor  one  term,  and  School  Director  for 
the  last  twelve  years. 


eHARLES  M.  DOLE,  a  highly  respected  resi- 
dent Of  Mattoon,  is  a  native  of  Terre  Haute, 
Ind.,   where  his  birth  took  place  May   24, 
1826.       He  is  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  Enoch  and  Harriett  P.  (Dexter)  Dole, 
a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found   elsewhere   in  this 
volume.     Our  subject  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  during  his  childhood  and  youth  on  the  farm 
of  his  father  in   Indiana,  and   came  to  Illinois  in 

1851,  when  about  twenty-five  years  of  age.  He  first 
engaged  with  his  two  brothers  trading  in  cattle  and 
hogs,    which   he  followed   quite  successfully   until 

1852,  having  no  permanent  residence.     In  the  fall 
of  the  yea,r  mentioned  they  all  settled  on  section  7, 
Mattoon   Township,  •  where  they  kept   "bachelor's 
hall,"  and  lived  together  until  the  marriage  of  the 
brother,  Stephen  D.    In  1874  or  1875  the  brothers 
divided  their  land  and  farmed  separately. 

Charles  M.  Dole  was  one  of  the  original  platters 
of  the  town  of  Mattoon,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
war  engaged  there  in  banking.  He  was  President 
of  the  First  National  Bank  for  a  period  of  ten  years 
and  was  otherwise  identified  with  the  most  im- 
portant business  interests  of  the  place.  In  company 
with  his  brother  he  built  the  "Dole  House,"  the 
largest  hotel  there,  besides  the  Dole  Opera  House 
and  many  other  prominent  buildings  in  the  city. 
He  was  thus  engaged  industriously  until  the  fall  of 
1880,  when  advancing  years  admonished  him  that 
it  would  be  wise  to  retire  to  a  more  quiet  life.  He 
accordingly  moved  to  his  farm  on  section  4,  Mat- 
toon  Township,  where  he  has  since  been  a  resident 

-4* 


and  is  farming,  enjoying  all  its  comforts  and   the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  many  friends. 

The  marriage  of  Charles  M.  Dole  and  Miss  Mary 
Palmer,  of  Clinton,  Ind.,  took  place  at  the  home  of 
the  bride  in  1849.  This  lady  fell  a  victim  to  the 
cholera  scourge  one  year  later,  leaving  an  infant 
son,  Frank  D.,  who  now  occupies  a  farm  near  that 
of  his  father.  At  the  time  of  his  sad  affliction  Mr. 
Dole  was  living  in  Terre  Haute,  where  he  and  his 
brother  wore  engaged  in  the  livery  business.  Our 
subject  several  years  later,  in  1861,  was  again  mar- 
ried, Miss  Charity  A.  Blackman  becoming  his  wife. 
This  lady  is  the  daughter  of  Remember  B.  and 
Lois  Blackman,  who  were  among  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  Edgar  County,  this  State,  and  were  num- 
bered among  the  most  highly  respected  members 
of  the  farming  community.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dole 
there  were  born  two  children,  Charles  E.  and  Mary 
B.,  both  still  at  home  with  their  parents. 


R.  HIRAM  RUTHERFORD,  of  Oakland, 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  Prairie  State  for 
over  forty-five  years,  and  soon  after  com- 
ing within  its  borders  located  on  the  spot 
which  he  now  calls  his  home.  As  a  physician  he 
was  remarkably  successful  in  his  practice,  which  he 
abandoned  about  fourteen  years  ago,  having  ac- 
cumulated a  fortune,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  1,100 
acres  of  some  of  the  finest  land  in  Central  Illinois. 
He  has  for  many  years  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  prosperity  of  Coles  County,  and  has  con- 
tributed his  full  share  toward  bringing  it  to  its 
present  condition. 

The  early  home  of  our  subject  was  in  Dauphin 
County,  Pa.,  where  his  birth  took  place  Dec.  27, 
1815.  He  is  the  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Swan) 
Rutherford,  also  natives  of  Dauphin  County,  Pa. 
The  father,  born  Aug.  4,  1776,  was  married  to  the 
mother  of  our  subject  March  17,  1801.  He  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer  all  his  life,  accumula- 
ting a  fair  competency,  and  departed  this  life  at 
the  homestead  in  Pennsylvania,  Jan.  17,  1850.  The 
mother,  who  was  born  Dec.  25,  1779,  survived  her 
husband  but  two  years,  dying  in  1852.  Their  ten 

•fc» 


.374 


COLES   COUNTY. 


children  lived  to  become  men  and  women,  and 
were  named  as  follows :  John  P. ;  Martha,  now  de- 
ceased; Dr.  William  W.,  a  graduate  of  Jefferson 
Medical  College  at  Philadelphia;  Margaret;  Sam- 
uel, who  died  in  1872;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Kendrick;  Abner;  Hiram,  of  our  sketch;  Mary, 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  Cyrus  G. 

The  youth  and  childhood  of  Dr.  Rutherford  were 
spent  on  the  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his  educa- 
tion was  received  in  the  common  schools  during 
the  winter  season.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  his  brother  William,  at  Harrisburg,  at  which 
he  continued  three  years,  and  afterward  pursued 
his  studies  at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1838.  His  certificate  dates 
back  further  than  any  physician's  in  Coles  County. 
He  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Likens  Valley,  on  the  Susquehanna,  in  1838,  whence 
he  removed  West  two  years  later,  and  has  since 
been  a  resident  of  this  county.  Since  first  coming 
here  he  has  been  identified  with  the  local  interests 
of  Oakland,  representing  the  township  in  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  seven  years,  officia- 
ting as  School  Director  for  several  years,  and  being 
Township  Treasurer  thirty-five  years.  With  this 
record  further  words  are  not  necessary  to  illustrate 
the  status  of  his  position  among  his  fellow-towns- 
men and  the  county  at  large.  He  was  prominent 
in  the  organization  of  the  bank  at  Oakland,  of  which 
he  has  been  a  Director  for  some  years. 

Dr.  Rutherford  was  bred  by  his  excellent  parents 
to  principles  of  freedom  and  equal  rights,  and  when 
old  enough  to  exercise  the  rights  of  an  American 
citizen,  indicated  his  opposition  to  slavery  by  har- 
boring fugitives,  for  which,  at  one  time  (1847)  he 
was  sued  for  damages  to  the  amount  of'$2,500; 
this  was  non-suited,  and  another  suit  respecting  the 
liberty  of  the  slaves,  resulted  in  a  decision  favora- 
ble to  the  _Doctor,  who  espoused  their  cause.  Abe 
Lincoln  was  engaged  in  this  case  as  opposing  coun- 
sel. O.  B.  Ficklin  and  Judge  Constable  were  the 
Doctor's  attorneys.  He  began  to  vote  when  the 
old  Whig  party  was  in  existence,  casting  his  ballot 
with  its  followers,  and  upon  the  abandonment  of 
the  old  party  cordially  identified  himself  with  the 
Republicans,  with  whom  he  has  since  remained.  In 


all  the  relations  of  life  he  has  acquitted  himself 
creditably,  and  is  accounted  as  one  of  the  finest 
representatives  of  the  business  and  social  element 
of  that  section. 


IASIL  B.  REDMAN  has  been  a  prominent 
figure  among  the  farmers  and  stock-growers 
of  Ashmore  Township  since  the  spring  of 
1859.  He  then  located  upon  an  uncultivated 
tract  of  land  where  is  now  his  valuable  farm  of  160 
acres,  which  he  has  brought  to  a  fine  state  of  culti- 
vation. He  deals  largely  in  high-grade  Short-horn 
cattle  and  Norman  horses.  He  has  a  handsome 
residence  and  other  buildings,  and  is  in  all  respects 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  an  intelligent 
community.  The  farm  is  located  on  section  33,  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  township,  and  from  its  lo- 
cation and  natural  surroundings  is  one  of  the  most 
desirable  in  that  section. 

Mr.  Redman  is  a  native  of  the  Prairie  State,  and 
first  drew  breath  in  Edgar  County,  Jan.  12,  1832. 
He  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Lucy  (Bennett)  Red- 
man, the  former  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter 
of  Kentucky.  Joseph  Redman  was  born  about  1785, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1831.  He  lookup  his  abode 
in  Edgar  County,  followed  farming,  and  became  a 
man  highly  respected  among  his  fellow-citizens. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Old  Baptist  Church,  and  was 
noted  for  his  integrity  and  kindly  Christian  charc- 
ter.  He  served  as  School  Trustee  during  the 
establishment  of  the  first  school  in  the  county,  and 
in  all  his  dealings  bore  the  reputation  of  an  honest 
and  straightforward  citizen.  He  died  in  1850,  upou 
the  homestead  which  he  had  built  up  in  Edgar 
County.  The  mother  survived  her  husband  about 
four  years,  and  was  sixty  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  her  death.  She  was  a  lady  in  every  respect  fit- 
ted to  be  the  companion  of  her  husband,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  same  church.  Their  children  were 
John,  Vincent,  Amanda;  Solomon,  now  deceased; 
Harrison,  Warder,  Hilton,  Eli,  Lucy,  Lancaster; 
Basil  B.,  of  our  sketch;  Mary,  Emily  and  Joseph. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Edgar 
County,  attended  the  district  schools  during  his 
cliildhood  and  youth,  and  early  in  life  made  himself 


T 


COLES   COUNTY. 


375 


useful  around  the  homestead.  After  passing  his 
twenty-third  birthday  he  married  Miss  Eliza  J. 
Kester,  the  wedding  taking  place  at  the  home  of 
the  bride's  parents  in  Edgar  County,  111.,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1858.  This  lady  died  after  becoming  the 
mother  of  one  child,  Orson,  who  after  reaching 
manhood  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Corty,  and  is 
now  fanning  in  Edgar  County. 

Mr.  Redman  was  the  second  time  united  in  mar- 
riage, to  Miss  Matilda  Cornwell,  the  ceremony  tak- 
ing place  at  the  home  of  the  bride,  Nov.  8,  1859, 
Rev.  P.  K.  Honn,  of  the  Christian  Church,  officiat- 
ing. Mrs.  Redman,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was 
born  May  11,  1837,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Hiram 
and  Lucy  (Toler)  Cornwell,  the  former  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  Hiram  Corn- 
well  was  born  in  January,  1812,  and  his  wife  in 
1820.  He  has  followed  farming  all  his  life,  and 
both  parents  are  living,  making  their  home  in  Ash- 
more  Township.  They  are  worthy  members  of 
society,  and  belong  to  the  Christian  Church.  Their 
ten  children  were  Ann,  Mary,  James,  Bennett, 
Susan,  George,  Lucy,  William,  Dora  and  Missouri. 

Mr.  and  Mrs,  Redman  after  their  marriage,  located 
on  their  present  farm,  which  was  then  but  a  tract 
of  uncultivated  prairie.  The  wife  has  labored 
equally  with  her  husband  to  build  up  the  attractive 
homestead  which  now  greets  the  eye  of  the  passer- 
by, and  where  their  children  were  born.  Their 
eldest  daughter,  Annie,  born  in  1860,  is  now 
a  resident  of  Ashmore  Township;  Emma,  born 
July  31,  1861,  was  taken  from  the  household  circle 
by  death  on  the  17th  of  April,  1876,  when  an  in- 
teresting young  girl  fifteen  years  of  age;  Olive, 
born  in  1862,  died  Aug.  7,  1877;  Willie,  born  Sept. 
27,  1866,  married  Miss  Laura  N.  Zink,  and  is  farm- 
ing in  Ashmore  Township;  Alva,  born  Oct.  9,  1869, 
is  still  a  member  of  the  parental  household. 


ENRY  MOHLENHOFF  owns  and  occupies 
a  fine  homestead  in  Humbolt  Township,  on 
section  22,  of  which  he  took  possession  in 
the  spring  of  1871.  He  has  eighty  acres  of 
good  land,  thoroughly  drained  with  tile,  and  im- 
proved with  substantial  fences  and  good  buildings. 


He  is  regarded  as  a  skillful  and  enterprising  farmer, 
and  a  man  taking  a  genuine  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  people  around  him.  He  has  served  as 
School  Director  for  fifteen  years,  and  Overseer  of 
Highways  eight  37ears.  Politically  he  affiliates  with 
the  Democratic  party. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  May  6,  1841, 
in  the  Kingdom  of  Hanover,  which  is  now  a 
Province  of  Germany,  and  was  the  fourth  child  of 
his  parents,  John  G.  and  Anna  Adaline  (Linnder- 
niann)  Mohlenhoff,  also  natives  of  the  Fatherland, 
where  they  were  married  and  reared  a  family.  In 
the  fall  of  1871  they  embarked  on  a  sailing-vessel 
from  Bremen,  and  after  a  tedious  ocean  voyage 
landed  in  New  York  City.  Thence  shortly  after- 
ward they  proceeded  westward,  and  taking  up  their 
abode  in  this  county,  purchased  forty  acres  of  im- 
proved land  on  section  15,  Humbolt  Township, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The 
father  only  survived  about  six  years,  his  death  tak- 
ing place  in  June,  1876.  The  mother  died  a  few 
years  later.  Both  were  active  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  are  remembered  by  their 
children  as  people  of  the  highest  moral  worth  and 
entitled  to  their  entire  respect  and  affection.  The 
household  circle  included  William,  Mary  E. ;  Henry, 
of  our  sketch;  Anna  and  Elizabeth ;  the  eldest  child 
died  in  infancy.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  John  Mohlenhoff,  was  also  a  native  of 
Hanover,  where  he  married  and  spent  his  entire  life. 
His  five  children  were  named  respectively:  Henry; 
John  G.,  the  father  of  our  subject;  Elizabeth,  Diet- 
rich and  Catherine;  all  are  now  deceased.  John  G. 
was  the  only  member  of  the  family  who  emigrated 
to  America. 

Our  subject,  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  his 
native  country,  received  the  advantages  of  the 
common  school,  pursuing  his  studies  continuously 
until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  Much  of  this 
time  was  spent  at  the  home  of  his  uncle,  Dietrich 
Mohlenhoff,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  he  commenced 
working  on  the  farm  for  himself,  being  thus  em- 
ployed four  years,  and  until  embarking  for  the 
!  United  States.  He  landed  in  New  York  City  in  the 
spring  of  1869,  and  thence  proceeded  south  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  engaged  with  his  brother 
William  in  market  gardening,  for  two  and  one-half 


^^p 


376 


COLES    COUNTY. 


years.  In  the  meantime  he  had  accumulated  a 
small  sum  of  money,  and  in  company  with  a  part- 
ner, engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  under  the  firm 
name  of  Peoples  &  Co.  They  continued  together 
nearly  two  years,  and  then  Mr.  M.  sold  out  his  in- 
terest to  his  partner,  to  engage  in  the  liquor  trade. 
This,  however,  he  also  sold  out  shortly  afterward, 
and  then  became  clerk  in  a  hotel  at  Nashville,  where 
he  continued  until  near  the  close  of  the  late  war.  In 
1865  he  engaged  as  sutler's  clerk  in  the  8th  Kan- 
sas Infantry,  until  the  regiment  was  mustered  out 
of  service.  The  following  spring  he  rented  a  tract 
of  land  in  Humbolt  Township,  of  which  he  has 
since  remained  a  resident.  He  has  been  greatly 
prospered  in  his  farming  transactions,  and  is  ac- 
counted a  reliable  man  and  responsible  citizen. 

Mr.  Mohlenhoff  was  united  in  marriage  in  this 
county,  with  Miss  Mary  B.  Steelbarr,  the  wedding 
taking  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride  April  1,  1869. 
Mrs.  M.  was  born  May  2,  1852,  in  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary 
(Copes)  Steelbarr,  the  former  a  native  of  Germany 
and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  four  children  of  this 
marriage  were  Anna;  Charles  W.,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Frederick  and  Mary.  Mr.  M.  and  his  eldest 
daughter,  Anna,  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 


J.  RICKETTS,  a  practical  printer, 
publisher  and  editor  of  the  Ashmore  Repub- 
lican, bears  the  distinction  of  being  the 
youngest  editor  in  the  State.  He  was  the  founder 
of  this  journal,  which  was  established  March  27, 
1886.  The  experiment  of  starting  a  newspaper  in 
Ashmore  after  so  many  others  had  failed  in  the 
attempt,  was  one  which  required  considerable 
nerve,  and  to  be  undertaken  by  a  young  man,  even 
though  his  experience  had  been  considerable  in  this 
line,  indicated  that  he  possessed  more  than  ordi- 
nary self-reliance,  and  also  a  confidence  in  the  re- 
spect of  the  people  around  him.  He  assured  his 
friends  in  the  business  and  social  world  that  the 
Republican  would  continue  as  long  as  their  pat- 
ronage would  warrant. 

It  was  his  aim  to   publish   a  clean  and   reliable 
journal,  and  a  glance  now  at  the  flies  of  the  Repub- 


lican would  convince  the  casual  observer  that  the 
expectations  of  its  projector  had  been  fully  real- 
ized, for  he  believed  in  the  intelligence  of  the  com- 
munity around  him,  and  that  nature  had  provided 
him  with  the  tact  and  genius  to  administer  to  their 
wants  in  this  direction.  The  Ashmore  Republican 
was  originally  a  four-column  quarto,  from  which  it 
grew  in  the  space  of  less  than  six  months  to  a 
seven-column  folio.  It  steadily  advanced  in  pop- 
ular favor,  and  its  circulation  increased  so  rapidly 
that  it  was  found  necessary  to  add  a  new  cylinder 
press  to  the  already  ample  office  outfit.  The  paper, 
in  May,  1887,  was  again  enlarged,  and  is  now  a 
five-column  quarto. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  near  the  village  of  Loxa,  July  14, 
1868,  and  is  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Melvina  (Jones) 
Ricketts.  He  shared  the  advantages  of  the  com- 
mon schools  during  his  boyhood  days,  and  after- 
ward attended  the  Shenandoah  Normal  College,  at 
Middlctown,  Va.,  where  he  received  special  literary 
training.  At  an  early  age  he  manifested  great 
interest  in  the  profession  of  journalism,  becoming 
a  regular  reader  of  the  weekly  newspaper  before 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  ten  years.  There  were 
few  public  questions,  especially  of  a  political  na- 
ture, which  he  could  not  discuss  in  an  intelligent 
manner,  and  he  became  a  regular  contributor  to 
the  newspapers  when  scarcely  fourteen  years  old, 
writing  short  sketches-and  stories  which  were  often 
published  in  the  periodicals  devoted  to  young  peo- 
ple. One  in  particular,  a  short  story  entitled,  "My 
Recollections,"  which  was  written  in  1884,  for  the 
Northern  Star,  a  literary  paper  of  Chicago,  at- 
tracted considerable  attention. 

The  first  newspaper  venture  of  Mr.  Ricketts  was 
the  Prairie  Youth,  which  he  published  a  short  time 
in  May,  1884.  Later  he  connected  himself  with 
the  Free  Lance,  a  literary  and  story  paper  pub- 
lished at  May  wood,  111.  In  June,  1884,  he  began 
to  acquaint  himself  with  the  art  of  printing,  in  the 
office  of  the  Ashmore  Citizen,  and  on  the  1st  of 
September  following,  assumed  editorial  manage- 
ment of  the  paper,  and  conducted  it  during  the 
Presidential  campaign.  He  received  great  praise 
for  the  manner  in  which  he  dealt  with  his  adver- 
saries, and  for  the  high  moral  tone  of  his  journal. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

•Jlf'VERSITY  GF  ILLIf'0'8 


RESIDENCE^  RICE  BRO'S  ,SEc.22.NoRTH  OKAW  TOWNSHIP. 


RESIDENCE  OF  Louis W.M.PFOFER.SEC. 20. SEVEN 


COLES   COUNTY. 


379 


Mr.  Ricketts  was  next  connected  with  the 
Charleston  Herald,  and  in  March,  1 886,  returned 
to  Ashmore  and  founded  the  Republican.  He  is  a 
natural  born  journalist,  a  rapid  and  versatile 
writer,  and  whether  upon  social  or  political  ques- 
tions, gives  expression  to  his  opinions  in  a  forcible 
manner,  to  which  no  sensible  person  can  take 
offense,  or  fail  to  be  convinced.  Of  late  he  has 
occupied  himself  principally  with  discussions  upon 
the  tariff,  to  which  he  has  given  deep  study,  view- 
ing the  questions  connected  therewith  in  all  their 
bearings  upon  the  business  elements  of  the  coun- 
try. There  is  predicted  for  Mr.  Ricketts  a  pros- 
perous future  and  an  enviable  position  among  the 
journalists  of  the  West. 


WILLIAM  D.  SNOWDEN  is  one  of  the  ris- 
ing 37oung  men  of  Pleasant  Grove  Town- 
ship, and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  pio- 
neer families  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  Aug.  20,1858, 
and  is  the  son  of  John  F.  and  Maria  L.  (Glenn) 
Snowden.  The  former  was  born  Feb.  19,  1819,  in 
Overton  County,  Tenn.  When  he  was  about  nine- 
teen years  of  age  his  parents,  James  and  Elizabeth 
Snowden,  left  their  Eastern  home  and  moved  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  Cumberland  County.  He  had 
been  trained  from  boyhood  in  the  details  of  farm- 
ing, and  Illinois  was  at  that  time  giving  promise  of 
her  future  success  as  an  agricultural  State.  He 
purchased  land  in  Coles  County,  and  in  1846  be- 
came a  permanent  citizen  there.  On  the  3d  of 
September,  1848,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Maria 
Glenn.  Mrs.  Snowden  was  born  in  Hardin  Coun- 
ty, Ky.,  Jan.  23,  1825,  and  is  the  daughter  of  James 
and  Lydia  (Harris)  Glenn. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Snowden  carried  on  a 
successful  farming  business  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  began  the  world  poor,  and  by  his  own  ex- 
ertions acquired  a  fine  estate,  containing  over  400 
acres  of  valuable  land,  all  of  which  is  under  culti- 
vation. But  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pio- 
neer life  wore  upon  his  physical  constitution,  and 
his  life  went  out  in  the  prime  of  manhood,  his 
death  occurring  May  10,  1865.  Mr.  Snowden  was 


a  man  of  great  intelligence  and  force  of  character, 
and  was  interested  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  the 
community.  He  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  had  held  at  different  periods 
several  official  positions  in  the  township.  He  was  a 
Baptist  in  religious  belief,  although  not  outwardly 
connected  with  the  church.  His  widow  was  early 
left  to  take  the  place  of  both  mother  and  father  to 
her  young  family  of  seven  children,  and  well  has 
she  fulfilled  the  trust.  She  is  still  living,  and  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead.  The  names  of  her  chil- 
dren are  as  follows :  James  F.,  Alvin  C. ;  Joseph  W. 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years ;  prior  to  his 
death  he  was  a  telegraph  operator.  Harriet  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Thornton  Gilman;  William  D.,  Thomas  J. 
and  Anna. 

William  D.  Snowden  received  a  thorough  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools  and  graduated  from 
Lee's  Academy,  June  22,  1882.  Immediately  after 
his  graduation  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  is 
now  a  student  with  Stevens,  Lee  &  Horton,  of 
Peoria,  111.  He  is  a  young  man  of  promising  abili- 
ties in  his  profession.  Life  with  all  its  possibilities 
yet  lies  before  him,  and  he  is  one  for  whom  all  may 
predict  a  bright  and  prosperous  career. 


ANIEL  MCCARTHY,  retired  farmer,  and 
at  present  a  resident  of  Charleston,  was 
born  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  in 
Ireland,  in  1829.  His  parents,  Patrick 
and  Catherine  (Shay)  McCarthy,  were  natives  of 
the  same  country,  where  they  spent  their  entire 
lives.  Patrick  McCarthy  was  a  farmer  in  easy  cir- 
cumstances, and  the  parental  household  included 
eight  children,  of  whom  but  three  are  now  living, 
namely,  Cornelius,  a  resident  of  Mattoon  ;  Daniel, 
of  our  sketch,  and  Jeremiah,  also  a  resident  of 
Charleston. 

Our  subject  attended  school  until  fourteen  years 
old  during  the  winter  season,  while  in  summer  his 
services  were  utilized  on  the  farm.  After  reach- 
ing his  majority,  not  being  satisfied  with  his  pros- 
pects in  his  native  land,  he  boarded  a  sailing-vessel 
at  Liverpool,  and  after  a  voyage  of  over  five 
weeks,  landed  at  New  Orleans,  Dec.  20,  1851.  He 


*-•-«. 


380 


COLES   COUNTY. 


remained  in  the  Crescent  City  about  six  weeks, 
waiting  to  be  joined  by  his  brother,  who  had  pre- 
ceded him  to  America,  and  was  employed  on  a 
steamboat  on  the  Mississippi.  After  they  met, 
both  proceeded  up  the  river  to  Cincinnati,  whence 
they  made  their  way  to  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  working 
on  the  railroad,  at  which  they  continued  until  the 
fall  of  that  year,  and  then  returned  to  Cincinnati, 
where,  however,  they  remained  but  a  short  time, 
going  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  they  were  em- 
ployed first  on  the  railroad  and  afterward  in  the 
Park  House.  In  the  spring  of  1854,  Mr.  McCarthy, 
accompanied  by  his  brother,  came  to  Paris,  Edgar 
County,  and  for  five  months  thereafter  they  were 
employed  on  the  I.  <fe  St.  L.  R.  R.  Afterward 
they  engaged  on  a  farm  east  of  the  city  of  Charles- 
ton, and  the  following  year  were  similarly  employed 
near  Mattoon  and  Charleston,  in  the  latter  a  year. 

Mr.  McCarthy,  although  having  no  capital  but 
his  strong  arms  and  his  resolute  will,  decided  to 
establish  a  home  of  his  own,  and  was  accordingly 
married,  in  1856,  to  Miss  Mary  Downey,  a  native 
of  his  own  county,  and  then  a  resident  of  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.  Mrs.  McC.  was  the  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel and  Mary  (O'Connor)  Downey,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  this  country  when  a  young  woman. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McC.  became  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  eight  now  living,  namely,  Michael,  Jere- 
miah; James,  who  married  Miss  Ella  Kinney;  Cor- 
nelius, Daniel,  Katie,  William  and  Ella. 

Our  subject  after  his  marriage,  continued  to 
work  on  the  railroad,  in  the  meantime  living  eco- 
nomically and  saving  what  he  could  of  his  limited 
earnings.  In  1858,  he  was  enabled  to  obtain  pos- 
session of  a  moderately  sized  farm  near  Seven 
Hickory  Township,  on  which  he  remained  four 
years  with  ordinary  success.  Soon  afterward  he 
purchased  the  tract  of  laud  in  Seven  Hickory 
Township,  which  is  now  included  in  his  present 
t'arm.  This  land  was  unimproved  when  it  came 
into  his  possession,  and  for  several  years  he  was  in- 
dustriously engaged  in  its  cultivation,  and  in  insti- 
tuting those  conveniences  and  improvements  re- 
quired by  the  modern  and  progressive  farmer.  He 
invested  his  surplus  capital  in  more  land,  until  he 
became  the  owner  of  320  acres,  upon  which  he  ex- 
pended $2,000  in  tiling  alone. 


Upon  deciding  to  abandon  the  farm,  our  subject 
placed  it  in  the  hands  of  tenants,  and  moved  to  a 
fine  brick  house  on  Washington  street,  in  Charles- 
ton, which  he  had  purchased,  and  which  stands 
about  two  blocks  from  the  county  court-house. 
Here,  amid  the  society  of  his  children  and  friends, 
he  is  passing  his  declining  years,  enjoying  the  re- 
ward of  his  early  industry,  and  the  respect  of  all 
who  know  him.  While  in  Hickory  Township  he 
served  as  School  Trustee  and  Superintendent  of 
road  work,  and  since  becoming  a  naturalized  citi- 
zen, has  uniformly  given  his  support  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  was  born  and  reared  in  the  Cath- 
olic Church,  and  with  his  wife  still  adheres  to  his 
early  faith. 


AMUEL  F.  LOGAN,  the  owner  of  a  fine 
estate  of  100  acres,  located  on  section  25, 
Ashmore  Township,  is  a  native  of  Lincoln 
County,  Ky.,  where  he  was  born  Oct.  4, 
1830.  He  is  the  sou  of  Allen  and  Martha  (Givens) 
Logan,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  that  county. 
He  belongs  to  the  famous  Ben  Logan  family  of 
Kentucky.  Allen  Logan  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
but  was  also  a  successful  farmer.  Kentucky  has  a 
high  reputation  as  an  agricultural  State,  'its  wheat, 
wool,  cattle  and  thoroughbred  horses  having  a 
world-wide  reputation  for  their  excellence. 

Allen  Logan  was  born  in  1790,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1862  after  a  long  and  useful  life  of  sev- 
enty-two years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Old- 
School  Presbyterian  Church.  His  first  wife  died  in 
1834,  and  he  was  united  in  marriage  the  second 
time,  with  Mrs.  Green,-  a  widow,  who  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky.  By  both  marriages  there  were 
fifteen  children,  whose  record  is  as  follows:  Sa- 
rah J.,  Rachael,  James  A.,  Alfonzo,  Hugh,  William 
P.,  Francis  M.,  Hugh  G.,  Martha  A.,  Samuel  F., 
Mary  D.,  Pleasant  W.,  M.  D.,  Harriet  E.  and  Ma- 
hala  D. 

Samuel  F.  Logan  was  twice  married,  first  to 
Miss  Martha  A.  Kevins,  Feb.  4,  1858,  who  was 
born  June  5,  1841,  and  died  Oct.  7,  1870,  leaving 
three  children — William  N.;  Lizzie  W.,  now  .Mrs. 
Mc.xliam,  and  Minnie,  the  wife  of  Albert  Rice.  lie 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


381 


was  married  the  second  time  in  August,  1871,  to 
Miss  Armilda  Gal  breath.  T,o  this  last  marriage 
three  children  were  born — James  A.,  Hugh  T.  and 
Robert  N. 

Samuel  Logan  came  to  Illinois  and  purchased 
his  farm  in  this  township  in  1864,  and  in  the  mean- 
time brought  his  land  to  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, his  residence  and  farm  buildings  being  among 
the  best  in  the  township.  He  is  interested  in  pub- 
lic affairs,  and  has  twice  been  elected  Assessor  of 
the  township,  giving  entire  satisfaction  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties.  He 'is  a  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  and  a  warm  advocate 
of  temperance  principles.  In  politics  he  belongs 
to  the  Democratic  party. 


MORGAN,  a  resident  of  the  town- 
ship which  bears  his  name,  is  the  son  of 
David  and  Jane  Morgan,  of  Kentucky, 
and  was  born  in  Sullivan  County,  Ind.,  in  1827,  re- 
moving with  his  parents  to  Central  Illinois  in  the 
spring  of  1835.  They  located  on  what  is  now 
known  as  Greasy  Creek,  a  tract  of  bottom  land 
which  the  elder  Morgan  entered  from  the  Govern- 
ment at  $1.25  per  acre.  He  first  improved  160 
acres,  then  doubled  the  amount  of  his  real  estate, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the  owner  of  360 
acres.  As  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Coles 
County  he  was  accorded  that  peculiar  reverence 
and  respect  due  those  who  came  with  courage  into 
the  wilderness  and  marked  out  a  track  for  the  later 
civilization. 

The  family  of  David  Morgan  was  the  third  which 
settled  in  what  is  now  known  as  Morgan  Township. 
He  died,  however,  before  the  county  was  organized 
into  townships,  the  one  in  question  being  named 
after  him  on  account  of  his  sterling  worth  of  char- 
acter, and  the  efforts  which  he  made  to  build  up  a 
homestead  creditable  to  himself  and  his  descendants. 
His  nearest  neighbor  for  many  months  was  Mr. 
Parker,  who  had  settled  upon  a  tract  of  land  now 
one-half  mile  from  Charleston,  which  was  a  distance 
of  twelve  miles  from  the  Morgan  land. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  there  was  born  to  them  one  child  in  the 


Blue  Grass  regions.  The  next  one,  David  Mor- 
gan, born  in  Indiana,  married  Miss  Catherine  J., 
daughter  of  James  Rodman,  of  Kentucky.  The 
latter  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  emigrated  to  this 
country  when  a  young  man.  He  spent  the  balance 
of  his  life  in  the  Blue  Grass  State,  living  to  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety  years.  Of  his  first  marriage 
there  were  born  three  daughters  and  one  son.  By 
his  second  wife  there  were  no  children.  He  lived 
to  see  his  children  married  and  settled  in  good 
homes  of  their  own,  and  was  prominent  among  the 
affairs  of  his  adopted  county,  where  he  followed 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter. 

Our  subject  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  soon  afterward 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  Shirra, 
a  native  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  who  came~to  Amer- 
ica with  her  parents  when  a  child  ten  years  of  age. 
They  soon  afterward  came  to  Central  Illinois  and 
located  upon  the  place  which  is  now  occupied  by 
our  subject  and  his  wife.  Here  the  death  of  the 
parents  took  place,  that  of  the  father  in  1851,  and 
the  mother  in  1880.  The  former  was  fifty-one 
years  old  and  the  latter  seventy-five.  Mrs.  Morgan 
was  their  only  child.  Of  her  union  with  our  sub- 
ject there  have  been  born  seven  children,  three  now 
deceased:  William  D.  is  a  physician,  practicing 
largely  in  Morgan  Township;  Ralph  Dollar  is  farm- 
ing, as  is  also  Alexander  J.,  in  this  township;  Josie 
Clay  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 

Upon  starting  out  in  life  Mr.  Morgan  received 
$50  in  cash  from  his  father,  with  which  he  made  the 
first  payment  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Morgan  Town- 
ship, which  he  owned  until  1849,  and  then,  selling 
out,  purchased  the  land  included  in  his  present 
homestead.  To  this  he  added  until  he  had  825 
acres  under  his  control,  but  after  dividing  among 
his  sons  and  daughter  there  remained  320  acres, 
from  which  he  receives  a  handsome  income  annu- 
ally. A  lithographic  view  of  Mr.  Morgan's  resi- 
dence and  surroundings  is  shown  in  this  work. 

Mr.  Morgan  has  been  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Rardin  since  1852,  in  which 
he  has  officiated  as  Elder  for  more  than  twent}' 
years,  and  is  Trustee  at  the  present  writing.  His 
wife  and  daughter,  Josie,  belong  to  the  same.  Mrs. 
Morgan  first  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


382 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Church  during  her  girlhood.  Our  subject  has  usu- 
ally voted  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  reserves 
his  right  to  vote  for  the  candidate  whom  he  con- 
siders best  fitted  for  office,  irrespective^  of  party. 
His  father,  Dave  Morgan,  was  also  prominently 
identified  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  iu  which  he  officiated  as  Elder,  and  to  the 
support  of  which  he  contributed  according  to  his 
means. 


Jn  OHN  A.  McCONNELL,  editor  of  the  Charles- 
ton Plaindealer,  is  a  native  of  Cadiz, 
I  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio,  and  was  born  Dec.  26, 
'  1826.  His  parents,  Michael  and  Susan 
(Galligher)  MeConnell,  were  natives  of  Maryland 
and  Ireland  respectively.  His  grandfather,  Alex- 
ander MeConnell,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  who 
emigrated  to  America  when  a  young  man,  settling 
in  Steubenville,  Ohio,  afterward  removing  to  Jeffer- 
son County,  where  his  death  took  place  on  the 
homestead.  He  was  married  and  reared  a  family 
of  six  children.  He  possessed  much  mechanical 
genius,  and  was  a  very  industrious  man,  and  for  a 
time  was  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Jefferson  County.  He 
invested  his  accumulations  in  a  good  farm,  of  which 
he  took  possession  and  occupied  the  latter  part  of 
his  life.  His  son,  Michael,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, learned  house-painting  and  chair-making, 
which  he  followed  for  several  years,  and  later  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  at  Cadiz,  Ohio,  where 
he  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life,  and  passed  to  his 
final  rest  in  the  summer  of  1872.  The  mother  sur- 
vived her  husband  about  three  years,  dying  in 
November,  1875. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  eldest  of  ten 
children  born  to  his  parents,  and  early  in  life  ex- 
hibited unusual  brightness,  being  able  to  read  quite 
well  when  but  four  years  of  age.  At  this  time  he 
was  afflicted  with  a  disease  of  the  eyes,  and  for  four 
years  was  not  allowed  to  look  into  a  book,  and  iu 
the  meantime  forgot  nearly  all  he  had  learned, 
being  obliged  to  begin  over  again  at  his  letters. 
He  remained  at  home  during  his  childhood  and 
youth,  and  for  six  or  seven  years  was  occupied  in 
teaching,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof  until 


his  marriage,  in  1861.  The  lady  destined  to  share 
his  future  life  was  Miss  Mary  (Juest,  of  Hummels- 
town,  Pa.,  and  their  wedding  took  place  in  Janu- 
ary, 1861.  Our  subject  then  engaged  in  the 
grocery  trade  at  Cadiz,  Ohio,  for  ten  years  follow- 
ing, then  selling  out,  engaged  in  company  with 
Hersey  W.  Kinsey,  in  the  tannery  business.  They 
operated  together  until  1877,  then  sold  out,  and 
the  following  year  Mr.  MeConnell  came  to  Charles- 
ton and  assumed  his  present  position  on  the  Plain- 
dealer. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1883,  he  met  with  a  great 
affliction  in  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  who  died 
lamented  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. He  was  afterward  married  to  Miss  Martha 
A.  Kennedy,  daughter  of  M.  H.  and  Catherine 
(Snider)  Kennedy,  of  Ohio.  They  occupy  a  snug 
home  on  Washington  street,  and  number  among 
their  friends  and  associates  a  large  proportion  of 
the  refined  and  educated  people  of  Charleston. 
Mr.  MeConnell  writes  and  fights  for  Republican 
principles,  and  with  his  wife,  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
Plaindealer  under  his  excellent  management  has 
become  a  paper  much  sought  for  by  the  people  of 
Coles  County,  and  exerts  no  small  influence  in  the 
molding  of  public  opinion. 


W)  D.  MOUNTJOY  is   proprietor  of  a  meat- 
market  and  one  of  the   prominent  business 
w  „      men  of  Charleston.    He  was  born  Aug.  28, 
1841,  in  Anderson  County,   near  Frankfort,  Ky., 
and  is  the  son  of  George  and   Francis   M.    (Stout) 
Mountjoy,  natives  of  that  State.      George  Mount- 
joy  passed   his  entire  life  in  Kentucky,  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising,  and  his  death  occurred 
there  in  1864.  His  wife  died  in  the  autumn  of  1886. 
They  had  a  family  of  five  children  born  to  them. 

W.  D.  Mountjoy  was  the  eldest  child,  and 
passed  his  bo3'hood  and  youth  on  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  received  a  practical  education.  When  the 
country  became  involved  in  the  Civil  War  lie  re- 
linquished all  other  plans,  and  enlisted  Aug.  13, 


COLES  COUNTY 


383   1 


1862,  in  Co.  M,  9th  Ky.  Vol.  Cav.  He  fought 
bravely  at  the  battle  of  Perry  ville.  and  in  the  au- 
tumn of  that  year  had  the  misfortune  to  be  taken 
prisoner  in  a  skirmish  on  the  Cumberland  River  at 
Horse-Shoe  Bend.  He  was  conveyed  to  Libby 
prison  at  Richmond,  and  confined  there  thirty-five 
days.  During  his  incarceration  he  was  allowed  only 
two  pints  of  bean-soup  twice  daily,  and  on  this  diet 
he  lost  thirty  pounds  of  flesh.  The  cruel  treatment 
of  Northern  prisoners  during  that  period  will  ever 
remain  a  dark  shadow  upon  the  escutcheon  of 
Southern  chivalry. 

After  his  release,  young  Mountjoy  went  to 
Annapolis,  Md.,  and  thence  to  Camp  Chase, 
where  he  was  exchanged  and  mustered  out,  having 
enlisted  for  twelve  months.  After  his  return  to 
Kentucky,  he  was  drafted,  but  had  suffered  so 
severely  through  his  previous  experience  that  he 
paid  $800  for  a  substitute.  At  this  time  he  engaged 
quite  extensively  in  buying  and  selling  cattle  and 
hogs,  shipping  hfs  stock  to  Louisville,  Ky.  He  con- 
tinued this  business  several  years,  and  in  1871  in- 
vested in  land  near  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  1881.  He  then  came 
to  Charleston,  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business, 
with  T.  J.  Hutton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hutton 
-  <fe  Co.  They  continued  this  partnership  two  and  a 
half  years,  when  Mr.  Mountjoy  disposed  of  his  in- 
terest in  the  firm  and  engaged  in  his  present  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Mountjoj-  is  a  practical  judge  of  stock, 
and  his  market  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 

In  1864  Mr.  Mountjoy  was  married  to  Miss  Vir- 
ginia Scott.  She  is  the  only  child  of  John  and 
Martha  (McCall)  Scott,  and  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
of  which  State  her  parents  are  natives,  and  where 
Mr.  Scott  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mountjoy  have  a 
family  of  six  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows: 
Molly,  Martha,  Scott,  Isabell,  Gertie  and  Virginia. 
Molly,  who  married  Oscar  Kruzan,  resides  near 
Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  has  one  child,  George  W. 
Martha  married  Thomas  J.  Cragg,  and  resides  in 
Charleston. 

In  1886  Mr.  Mountjoy  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  School  Director  by  the  Democratic  party,  of 
which  he  is  a  stanch  supporter.  In  1864  he  became 
a  Mason  and  holds  the  office  of  Junior  Deacon  in 


that  fraternity.  Mr.  Mountjoy  is  one  of  the  liberal- 
minded  and  progressive  men  of  the  county,  and  is 
interested  in  all  measures  tending  to  promote  its 
welfare.  His  residence  is  on  Jackson  street. 


WILLIAM  SHOEMAKER,  W'LO  has  one  of 

the  best  appointed  stock  farms  in  the  cen- 
tral portion  of  Coles  County,  is  located  on 
section  36,  of  Humbolt  Township,  where  he  has  358 
acres,  including  sixty  of  choice  timber,  a  shapely 
and  substantial  farm  residence,  good  barns  and  out- 
houses, and  everything  required  for  the  successful 
prosecution  of  his  calling. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Wythe  County,  Va., 
and  was  born  Nov.  17,  1822.  His  parents,  John 
and  Anna  (Brown)  Shoemaker,  were  natives  of 
North  Carolina,  born  near  Gifford  Court-House, 
where  they  were  reared  and  married.  They 
settled  first  in  Wythe  County,  Va.,  where  they  re- 
sided until  the  spring  of  1829,  and  thence  removed 
to  Washington  County,  Va.  In  the  fall  of  1834, 
they  migrated  to  this  county,  where  the  father  still 
followed  his  old-time  occupation  of  farming,  and 
where  his  death  took  place  in  1843.  The  mother 
survived  her  husband  thirteen  years,  dying  iu  1856. 

Both  parents  were  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  John  Shoemaker 
occupied  a  prominent  position.  In  all  the  relations 
of  life  he  was  distinguished  by  his  uprightness  and 
kindliness  of  heart,  and  when  finally  gathered  to 
his  fathers,  was  mourned  as  one  whose  place  could 
not  easily  be  filled.  His  family  included  nine 
children:  Benjamin,  Aaron,  Susanna,  Samuel,  John 
and  Elizabeth  A.  are  all  deceased ;  the  three  living 
are  Matilda,  the  widow  of  Parker  Woods,  and  a 
resident  of  this  county;  William  of  our  sketch,  and 
James,  whose  home  is  in  this  township. 

Our  subject  passed  his  youth  and  boyhood  after 
the  manner  of  most  farmer's  sons,  and  when  start- 
ing out  in  life  for  himself  was  married,  May  20, 
1846,  to  Miss  Lucinda,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Highsmith)  Woods.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
S.  were  also  natives  of  the  Carolinas,  whence  they 
emigrated  first  to  Kentucky  and  then  to  Illinois, 


384 


COLES   COUNTY. 


coming  to  this  county  in  about  1825.  Of  this 
marriage  there  were  born  three  children — James 
O  ,  Dovy  and  Thornton.  The  first  and  last  named 
are  deceased,  and  the  mother  departed  this  life  at 
the  home  of  her  husband,  on  the  1st  of  April 
1869. 

Mr.  Shoemaker  was  afterward  married  to  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Webster,  tire  widow  of  Lawson  Webster, 
of  Kentucky,  and  daughter  of  William  and  Jane 
(Mitchell)  Mason.  Mrs.  S.  by  her  first  husband 
became  the  mother  of  two  children,  Alice  J.,  and 
William  L.,  both  now  deceased.  Of  her  marriage 
with  our  subject  there  are  no  children.  Mrs.'  Shoe- 
maker was  one  of  seven  children  born  to  her 
parents,  namely,  John  K.,  deceased ;  Elizabeth, 
William,  Killis  M.,  Charles  R.,  Tabitha  I.  and 
Mary  J. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  are  members  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church,  and  our  subject,  politi- 
cally, affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  Road  Commissioner,  and  is  a  man 
of  intelligence,  whose  opinions  are  generally  re- 
spected. 


UCIAN  DUNBAR,  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  Charleston  Courier,  is  a  native  of  this 
town.  He  was  born  Nov.  4,  1842,  and  is 
the  son  of  Alexander  P.  and  Susan  F.  (Mason) 
Dunbar,  his  father,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in 
Flemingsburg,  July  4,  1810,  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
and  his  mother,  a  native  of  Harrisburg,  Va.,  born 
Nov.  '23,  1812,  of  English  ancestry.  They  were 
married  at  Shelby  ville,  111.,  in  1836.  Prior  to  his 
marriage  with  the  mother,  of  our  subject,  Alexander 
Dunbar  had  been  married  to  Miss  Ella  Monroe,  of 
Charleston,  who  lived  but  a  short  time  after  her 
marriage.  She  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  T.  G.  Chambers 
and  John  Monroe.  The  parents  of  our  subject 
had  a  family  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
namely,  Mason  A.,  Mary  E.,  Imogene,  Luciau, 
Albert  P.,  Belle,  Charles  U.  and  Sue.  Of  these  but 
three  are  living:  Mary  E.,  now  Mrs.  Lawrence,  of 
Charleston,  111. ;  Charles,  also  a  resident  of  Charles- 
ton, and  Lucian,  of  our  sketch.  The  parents  died 
in  1883,  the  mother  on  the  22d  of  February,  and 
'  '  the  father  on  the  22d  of  April. 


1 


Lucian  Dunbar  began  attending  school  at  an 
early  age,  and  when  thirteen  years  old  entered  the 
office  of  the  Charleston  Courier  to  learn  the  printer's 
trade.  He  remained  there  four  years  and  then  for 
a  time  engaged  as  a  compositor  on  the  Gazette,  in 
Mattoon.  Subsequently  he  returned  to  Charleston, 
and  afterward  visited  the  cities  of  Terre  Haute,  St. 
Louis,  and  Sullivan,  111.,  occupying  himself  at  his 
trade.  In  the  latter  place  he  engaged  with  the  Ex- 
press for  a  year,  and  then  returning  to  Charleston 
purchased,  in  company  with  his  brother  Albert,  the 
Plaindealer,  becoming  its  proprietor  in  1866.  They 
continued  the  publication  of  the  paper  until  the 
death  of  his  brother  in  1875,  and  for  three  years  fol- 
lowing Mr.  D.  conducted  it  .alone.  In  1878  he 
sold  out  to  M.  A.  McConnell  &  Co.,  and  for  two 
years  afterward  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness. He  seemed  out  of  his  element,  however,  in 
this  branch  of  the  business  world,  and  finally  re- 
turned to  the  "art  preservative." 

Mr.  Dunbar  was  married,  Oct.  27,  1875,  to  Miss 
Mary  L.,  daughter  of  David  L.  and  Elvira  (Sites) 
Stowers.  of  Kentucky,  the  wedding  taking  place  at 
the  home  of  the  bride's  grandfather  at  Palmyra, 
Mo.,  the  parents  of  Mrs.  D.  being  dead.  The  four 
children  born  of  this  union  are,  Imogene,  Stowers, 
Cadet  and  Christina,  all  at  home.  Mr.  Dunbar  is 
liberal  in  his  religious  views,  and  in  politics, 
strongly  Democratic.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
City  Treasurer  two  terms,  and  his  paper  has  be- 
come one  of  the  indispensable  features  of  his  town. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  mem- 
ber of  Charleston  Lodge  No.  35,  and  is  also  a  K. 
of  P.,  identified  with  Syracuse  Lodge  No.  143.  He 
stands  high  in  both  societies,  and  as  a  business  man 
and  citizen,  enjoys  the  unqualified  respect  of  his 
fellow-townsmen. 


WILLIAM  D.  BUSBEY,  a  retired  farmer, 
now  a  resident  of  Oakland  Village,  and 
whose  portrait  is  shown  in  this  connection, 
is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  and  was  born  in 
Clarke  County,  Dec.  28,  1820.  He  is  the  son  of 
Hamilton  and  Sophia  (Lewis)  Busbey,  natives  of 
Virginia,  whence  the  former  emigrated  to  Ohio  in 
1815,  and  farmed  there  until  1839.  He  then  came 


LIBRARY 

Of  THE 

yi."VERsnv  OF 


COLES   COUNTY. 


overland  to  this  county  with  horse-teams,  and  lo- 
cating in  East  Oakland  Township,  experienced  all 
the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life,  and  labored  with  his 
neighbors  to  build  up  a  comfortable  homestead. 
For  several  3rears  after  he  came  here,  he  was  obliged 
to  transport  his  farm  produce  by  teams  to  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.  He  did  not  live  to  old  age,  but  died 
in  his  prime,  Dec.  16,  1847.  The  mother  died 
in  April,  1855. 

The  parental  family  included  the  following  chil- 
dren: Thomas  C.,  Susan  M.,  Almira,  Hamilton, 
Hiatt,  Ann,  John,  Samuel,  Maria.  Eveline,  Wash- 
ington, Henry  C.,  and  William  D.,  our  subject.  Of 
these,  nine  are  still  living.  In  1882,  there  was  a  fam- 
ily reunion  at  Arcola,  Douglas  County,  in  which 
eleven  of  the  sons  and  daughters  participated. 
Two  have  since  died.  It  was  a  memorable  event, 
both  for  the  family  and  for  the  people  who  knew 
them. 

Our  subject  came  to  this  county  with  his  parents 
in  1839,  and  remained  under  the  home  roof  until 
reaching  his  majority,  in  the  meantime  acquiring  a 
limited  education  in  the  district  schools.  He  was 
studious,  however,  and  fond  of  his  books,  and  fit- 
ting himself,  for  a  teacher,  followed  this  employ- 
ment two  years.  In  1845,  when  twenty --four  years 
of  age,  he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss 
Letitia  Black,  who  was  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in 
1824,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  in  1828, 
After  becoming  the  mother  of  three  children  she 
departed  this  life  in  the  spring  of  1855,  and  her  re- 
mains were  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Oakland. 
The  children  of  this  marriage  were:  Josiah  H., 
now  a  resident  of  Oakland ;  Milton  T.,  in  Wyoming 
Territory,  and  William  L.,who  is  engaged  at  farm- 
ing in  Oakland.  Josiah  H.  Busbey  entered  the 
army  in  1863,  and  participated  in  many  of  the  bat- 
tles of  the  late  war.  He  marched  with  Sherman 
from  Atlanta  to  the  sea.  and  up  through  the  Caro- 
linas,  and  when  the  war  was  ended  received  his 
honorable  discharge,  as  one  who  had  performed  his 
duties  as  a  soldier  in  a  brave  and  creditable  man- 
ner. 

Mr.  Busbey  was  the  second  time  married,  Feb. 
23,  1860,  to  Mrs.  Margaret  (Newman)  Milholland, 
widow  of  Allison  Milholland,  and  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander and  Margaret  Newman.  Her  parents  came 


from  Tennessee  to  this  county  when  she  was  a  child 
of  seven  years,  and  located  on  a  tract  of  land  in 
East  Oakland  Township,  where  they  built  up  a 
good  home  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Mrs.  B.  was  born  in  Tennessee,  Dec.  18,  1826,  and 
by  her  union  with  our  subject  became  the  mother 
of  three  children,  of  whom  only  one,  a  son,  Francis 
M.,  survives.  Eveline  died  in  infancy,  and  Carlton 
when  about  twelve  years  of  age,  in  1878. 

Mr.  Busbey,  in  about  185  9,  em  barked  in  the  har- 
ness business,  which  he  followed  for  nearly  thirty 
years.  During  this  time  he  lived  on  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  near  the  village  of  Oakland,  where  he 
still  resides,  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  and 
many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  With  his  estimable 
wife  he  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  he  has  offi- 
ciated as  Elder  since  1848.  He  was  a  great  Sunday- 
school  worker  in  his  more  active  days.  Politically, 
he  votes  the  Republican  ticket. 


OHN  POORMAN,  one  of  the  honored  pio- 
|  neers  of  Coles-County,  is  passing  the  sunset 
of  life  in  peace  and  plenty  at  his  home  in 
the  village  of  Humbolt,  surrounded  by  the 
care  and  affection  of  the  friends  who  have  known 
him  for  so  long  as  a  man  worthy  of  their  respect 
and  esteem.  The  history  of  this  long  and  worthy 
life,  necessarily  brief  in  a  work  of  this  kind,  is  es- 
sentially as  follows: 

.  Mr.  Poorman,  a  native  of  Lycoming  County,  Pa., 
was  born  Oct.  4,  1806,  and  was  the  third  child  in 
a  family  of  eleven,  the  offspring  of  Peter  and  Jane 
(Sturges)  Poorman.  Peter  Poorman,  also  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  State,  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 
and  at  the  same  time  being  fond  of  rural  life,  car- 
ried on  a  farm  in  Lycoming  County.  The  mother 
was  the  daughter  of  Amos  Sturges,  a  native  of  En- 
gland, who  married  and  reared  a  family  in  his  na- 
tive countiy.  He  emigrated  to  this  country  and 
located  on  the  Susquehanna.  After  the  marriage 
of  his  daughter,  he  moved  to  Canada,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

John  Poormau,  in  common  with  his  brothers  and 
sisters,  was  reared  on  the  farm,  his  education  being 
conducted  mostly  during  the  winter  season  in  the 


388 


COLES   COUNTY. 


district  school.  At  twenty-three  years  of  age,  as 
the  first  step  toward  starting  out  in  life  for  himself, 
he  was  married,  Feb.  4,  1830,  to  Miss  Sarah  Dunn, 
the  wedding  taking  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride 
in  Ly  com  ing  County,  Pa.  Mrs.  P.  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Lydia  (Baird)  Dunn,  also  na- 
tives of -the  Keystone  State.  The  young  people 
located  first  upon  a  rented  farm,  which  they  occu- 
pied six  years,  and  then  decided  to  emigrate  West. 
Coming  into  this  county,  our  subject"  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land,  embracing  about  502  acres.  He 
located  here  in  the  spring  of  1836,  when  the  coun- 
try around  was  thinly  settled,  there  being  but  five 
or  six  families  within  as  many  miles.  The  nearest 
markets  were  at  Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  La  Fayette. 
Ind.,  which  were  reached  overland  with  teams. 
Even  five  years  later,  in  1841,  money  was  so  scarce 
that  people  seldom  saw  a  dollar,  and  much  less 
thought  of  handling  money  in  the  course  of  their 
business  transactions.  Of  the  settlers  of  that  time 
not  one  now  remains  to  keep  our  subject  company, 
and  while  he  has  marked  with  intense  interest  and 
satisfaction  the  development  and  progress  of  his 
adopted  State,  he  sometimes  heaves  a  sigh  of  re- 
gret for  the  old  scenes,  the  ol'd  faces,  and  the  old 
friends,  who,  in  common  with  him,  labored  to  build 
up  a  home  and  make  for  themselves  a  position  of 
which  their  children  should  not  be  ashamed. 

Mr.  Poorman  cultivated  his  farm  to  the  best  of 
his  ability  until  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was 
completed,  which  made  things  better  for  every- 
body, for  farmers  as  well  as  travelers.  Transport- 
ation was  now  cheaper  and  more  rapidly  effected, 
and  the  stock  and  produce  repaid  better  the  efforts 
of  the  husbandman.  Our  subject  had  been  pros- 
pered in  his  labors,  and  in  1 872  wisely  resolved  to 
retire  from  active  life  and  give  place  to  younger 
and  stronger  men.  He  purchased  a  snug  home  in 
the  village  of  Humbolt,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
His_wife,  the  faithful  companion  of  his  toils  and 
the  sympathizer  in  all  his  plans  and  undertakings, 
departed  this  life  in  August,  1877.  Their  union 
had  been  blest  by  the  birth  of  seven  children,  viz., 
Daniel,  born  Dec.  10,  1830;  Lydia  Ann,  July  31, 
1832;  Peter  M.,  June  30,  1834;  Jane  Ellen,  Aug. 
27,  1836;  Rebecca  Amanda,  Nov.  16,  1839;.  Will- 
iam Allison,  March  7,  1842;  John  Franklin,  Oct.  1, 


1851.  Of  these  only  two  survive — William  A.,  a 
farmer  of  Mattoon  Township,  living  not  far  from 
his  father,  and  John  F.,  who  is  a  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Poorman  was  married  the  second  time,  in 
December,  1879,  to  Mrs.  Margaret  J.  McClaren, 
daughter  of  James  and  Hannah  S.  (Vauada)  Sav- 
age, and  widow  of  William  McClaren.  Mrs.  P. 
was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  July  12,  1839, 
and  came  with  her  parents  to  Indiana  when  that 
State  was  almost  a  wilderness,  and  wolves  and  other 
wild  animals  were  plenty.  She  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  .her  first  marriage,  and  with  her 
husband  became  a  resident  of  Indiana. 

Mr.  Poorman  was  early  recognized  as  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  soon  after  coming 
to  Mattoon  Township  was  appointed  to  the  various 
positions  of  trust  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow 
townsmen.  He  has  held  nearly  all  the  local  offices 
in  the  county,  and  there  are  few  enterprises  tending 
to  the  good  of  his  community  in  which  he  has  not 
taken  an  active  and  leading  part.  When  a  young 
man  he  identified  himself  with  the  old  Whig  party, 
but  after  its  abandonment  cast  his  lot  with  the 
Democrats.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Poorman  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  they 
have  been  earnest  workers  for  many  years.  The 
life  of  our  subject  presents  the  pleasant  picture  of 
a  man  whose  days  have  been  well  spent,  and  whose 
record  will  be  perused  by  his  descendants  with 
pride  and  satisfaction. 

It  is  with  pleasure  we  give  his  portrait  in  this 
work,  knowing  that  it  will  be  welcomed  by  all  who 
know  him,  and  will,  in  connection  with  this  per- 
sonal narrative,  serve  as  a  means  of  perpetuating 
his  memory  when  he  shall  have  been  gathered  to 
his  fathers. 


R.  W.  D.  MORGAN,  a  rising  young  phy- 
sician of  this  county  is  the  descendant  of 
a  prominent  pioneer  family,  and  resides 
in  the  village  of  Rardin,  Morgan  Town- 
He  was  born  Oct.  8,  1856,  in  this  township, 
which  received  its  name  in  honor  of  his  grand- 
father, David  Morgan,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  county  in  1835.  Diivid  Morgan  was  a  farmer 


ship. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


389 


and  stock-grower  in  Indiana  prior  to  his  removal 
to  Illinois.  He  was  active  and  enterprising  in  busi- 
ness, and  identified  himself  with  the  new  and  rap- 
idly developing  community  into  which  he  moved, 
and  with  his  family  aided  in  building  up  the  politi- 
cal and  social  interests  of  the  township.  His  death 
occurred  here  in  1860. 

Dr.  Morgan  is  the  son  of  William  Morgan,  who 
was  born  Dec.  13,  1827,  in  Sullivan  County,  Ind. 
He  was  eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Illinois.  The  country  was  then  little 
more  than  an  unbroken  wilderness  inhabited  by  Indi- 
ans, and  the  home  of  the  wolf,  deer  and  other  wild 
animals,  and  from  his  home  in  the  northern  part 
of  what  is  now  Morgan  Township  to  within  a  half 
mile  of  Charleston,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles,  there 
was  not  a  single  habitation.  William  Morgan  mar- 
ried Miss  Margaret  Shirrs,  Sept.  6,  1850.  Mrs. 
Morgan  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  May  28, 
1835.  Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Morgan 
engaged  in  farming  for  himself,  in  which  he  has 
been  very  successful.  The  homestead  contains  320 
acres  in  other  parts  of  the  township. 

Dr.  Morgan  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  at 
home,  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm  in  the  sum- 
mer and  attending  school  in  the  winter  until  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age.  His  father,  who  was 
brought  up  in  the  pioneer  days  and  suffered  from 
£he  limited  educational  advantages  of  that  period, 
spared  no  pains  in  the  education  of  his  family- 
Dr.  Morgan  attended  school  two  years  at  Oakland 
and  in  1874  studied  one  year  at  the  Iowa  Univer- 
sity in  Keokuk.  In  1  875  he  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  Peak,  who  was  graduated  by 
a  medical  college  in  Philadelphia  and  one  in  St. 
Louis.  In  the  autumn  of  the  following  year  he 
entered  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  applying  himself  closely  to  the 
study  of  his  chosen  profession,  and  was  graduated 
in  1879. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  Dr.  Morgan  be- 
gan the  practice  of  medicine  in  Rardin,  and  on  the 
Christmas  Day  following,  his  marriage  to  Miss  Flor- 
ence Jeffrey  took  place.  Mrs.  Morgan  was  born  in 
Rockford,  and  is  tin;  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  M. 
(Lonbaker^Jeffrey.  She  is  a  charming  and  accom- 
plished lady,  and  a  graduate  of  the  Rockford  Sem- 


inary.  Her  only  brother,  Arthur,  is  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Jeffrey's  fam- 
ily is  of  English  extraction.  He  was  a  skillful 
machinist  and  had  charge  of  the  machine-shops  at 
Rockford  for  twenty-six  years.  His  wife  died  in 
1880,  and  after  the  marriage  of  his  daughter  he 
came  to  Rardin  to  live  with  her,  but  after  remain- 
ing a  year  missed  the  home  scenes  and  faces  and 
returned  to  Rockford,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
1886,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four.  He  was  a  highly 
esteemed  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
had  been  a  Deacon  for  five  years  prior  to  his  death. 
In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 

Dr.  Morgan  owns  his  residence  and  office  in  Rar- 
din. He  keeps  a  full  line  of  drugs  for  his  own 
use  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  a  val- 
uable medical  library,  comprising  all  of  the  best 
authors.  He  is  a  constant  student  and  reader, 
keeping  himself  well  informed  in  regard  to  all  the 
recent  discoveries  in  medical  science  and  the  cur- 
rent literature  of  his  profession,  recognizing  the 
great  fact  that  to  excel  one  must  always  keep 
learning.  By  his  energy  and  skill  he  has  built  up 
a  fine  and  constantly  increasing  practice  in  Rardin 
and  throughout  the  surrounding  country.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Coles  County  Medical  Association, 
and  with  his  wife  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  A  view  of  the 
handsome  residence  of  Dr.  Morgan  is  shown  else- 
where in  this  work. 


G~  REEN  BERRY  MARTIN.  The  history  of 
this  worthy  resident  of  Humbolt  Township 
is  substantially  as  follows :  He  is  a  native 
of  Vaiiderburg  County,  Ind.,  and  was  born  Nov. 
26,  1 8-20,  being  the  fifth  of  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, the  offspring  of  Berry  and  Deborah  (Cook) 
Martin,  natives  of  South  Carolina.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  William  by  name,  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  After  the  independence  of  the 
Colonies  had  been  established  he  located  in  Georgia, 
where  he  carried  on  agriculture  successfully  and 
raised  a  fine  family  of  sous  and  daughters.  Among 
these  his  son  Berry  removed  first  to  Georgia  and 


I 


f 


<  ,    390 


COLES   COUNTY. 


4 


thence  to  Indiana,  where  he  continued  a  resident 
of  Vanderburg  County  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Cook,  of  South  Carolina, 
where  she  was  born  and  reared.  Her  marriage  to 
Berry  Martin  took  place  in  Georgia. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  a  farm 
in  the  wilds  of  Vanderburg  County  with  no  ad- 
vantages for  education.  He  was  trained,  however, 
to  habits  of  industry,  and  when  twenty-two  years 
of  age  set  out  in  life  for  himself,  the  most  im- 
portant step  being  his  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Barrett.  Mrs.  M.  was  the  fourth  child  of  Isaac 
and  Lucy  (Fowler)  Barrett,  of  Alabama,  who  in 
their  youth  removed  with  their  parents  to  Indiana 
and  were  married  in  Warrick  County.  Our  subject 
and  his  young  wife  began  life  together  on  a  farm 
in  Vanderburg,  whence  he  afterward  removed  to 
Warrick  County  and  thence  to  Gentry  ville,  Spencer 
County,  where  he  engaged  to  learn  tanning  and 
shoemaking.  Of  these  trades  he  became  master, 
and  followed  them  in  that  locality  for  sixteen 
years.  He  invested  his  surplus  capital  afterward 
in  120  acres  of  land  with  several  town  lots.  He 
also  engaged  in  merchandising,  but  this  not  proving 
successful  soon  abandoned  it. 

After  the  outbreak  of  the  late  war  Mr.  Martin 
enlisted  with  the  three-months'  men,  but  on  ac- 
count of  an  overplus  of  volunteers  his  regiment 
was  sent  home  without  seeing  any  active  service. 
In  the  fall' of  1861,  he  sold  out  his  property  in 
Spencer  County,  and  coming  to  this  county  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  railroad  land  on  section  34, 
in  Humboit  Township,  where  he  took  up  his  abode 
with  his  family.  A  year  later,  however,  he  sold 
his  property  and  purchased  a  farm  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  county.  He  had  occupied  this  about 
eight  years,  and  then  discovered  a  flaw  in  the  title. 
In  seeking  to  correct  the  error  he  lost  the  land  en- 
tirely. Afterward  he  farmed  on  rented  land  seven 
or  eight  years,  and  then,  in  company  with  his  son, 
purchased  eighty-one  and  one-half  acres  on  section 
32,  in  Humboit  Township,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  has  meddled  very  little  with  politics, 
but  casts  his  vote  in  support  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  became  the  parents  of  ten 


children,  of  whom  one,  Benjamin  F.,  is  deceased. 
Rachel  married  Franklin  Lozier,  and  is  residing  on 
a  farm  in  Humboit  Township;  Eliza  is  the  wife  of 
John  Morgan,  a  farmer  residing  in  Iowa;  Lucy, 
the  wife  of  Louis  Mullen,  is  a  resident  of  Phillips 
County,  Kan. ;  Caroline  married  Silas  Morgan,  and 
lives  in  Logansport,  Ind. ;  Elizabeth  married  John 
Donnelly,  a  farmer  of  Humboit  Township;  Deborah 
Ann,  Newton  Jasper,  Caroline  and  William  are  at 
home  with  their  parents;  Newton  Jasper  is  farming 
on  his  own  account  in  Humboit  Township.  The 
parents  and  children  are  all  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church. 


F.  PURTILL,  of  the  firm  of  Woods 
&  Ptirtill,  publishers  of  the  Mattoon  Jour- 
nal, is  a  practical  printer  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Journal  in  various  capacities  for 
eighteen  years,  working  first  at  the  case,  then  be- 
coming associated  with  Mr.  Woods  as  equal  partner. 
He  has  principal  charge  of  the  mechanical  depart- 
ment, and  the  Journal  under  their  management  has 
attained  to  a  creditable  position  among  the  news- 
papers of  Central  Illinois. 

Mr.  Purtill  was  born  in  Chicago,  111..  Nov.  19, 
1848,  and  is  the  son  of  Richard  and  Ann  (Fowler) 
Purtill,  the  former  a  native  of  Limerick,  Ireland, 
and  the  latter  of  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  Richard  Pur- 
till left  his  native  Erin  in  1840,  and  settled  first  in 
Toronto,  Canada,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of  a 
boot  and  shoe  maker,  which  he  had  learned  of  his 
father,  Henry,  on  the  other  side  of  the  water.  He 
was  one  of  two  children  born  to  his  parents,  the 
other  child  being  a  daughter,  Matilda,  who  was 
married  in  Ireland,  to  William  Kasan,  and  they 
afterward  removed  to  Chicago,  where  her  death 
took  place  in  1859. 

Richard  Purtill  followed  his  trade  in  Canada  un- 
til 1841,  then,  going  to  Chicago,  engaged  in  pork- 
packing  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Kasan.  The}' 
continued  together  until  1855,  and  then  Mr.  Purtill 
engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  at  Middle- 
port,  until  18G3,  meeting  with  signal  success.  In 
the  spring  of  the  latter  year  he  moved  to  Mattoon, 
but  three  years  later  took  up  his  residence  at  Wat- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


391 


seka.  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in  1872. 
The  mother  is  still  living  in  the  latter-named  town. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  namely, 
Henry,  William,  Edward,  James,  Katie  and  Annie 
(twins,)  and  Mattie. 

The  younger  days  of  our  subject  were  spent 
mostly  in  school  at  Midclleport,  111.,  and  when  fif- 
teen years  of  age  he  went  into  the  office  of  the 
Middleport  Press  to  learn  the  printer's  trade. 
After  eighteen  months  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
Mattoon,  where  he  became  connected  with  the 
Gazette  office,  in  which  he  continued  until  1867. 
In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  went  into  the  Journal 
office  as  a  journeyman,  remaining  until  1872,  then 
returned  to  the  Gazette,  continuing  until  1875,  and 
five  years  later,  in  1880,  became  connected  with  the 
Journal,  with  which  he  has  since  remained. 

The  marriage  of  W.  F.  Purtill  and  Miss  Lizzie, 
daughter  of  John  Owens  of  Mattoon,  took  place  at 
the  home  of  the  bride,  Oct.  19,  1881.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  P.  have  two  children — Carl  and  Florence. 


1  AMES  R.  HONN  is  one  of  the  rising  young 
farmers  of  Coles  County,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 8,  Oakland  Township.  He  was  born  in 
this  county  Nov.  20,  1860,  and  is  the  son 
of  Samuel  I),  and  Hannah  (Shrout)  Honn.  His  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Kentucky,  where  his  father 
was  born  in  1819,  and  his  mother  in  1816.  They 
are  living  in  Kansas,  Edgar  County,  where  his 
father  is  now  a  retired  farmer.  They  have  always 
been  interested  in  promoting  the  cause  of  religion 
and  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  A 
family  of  nine  children  was  born  to  them,  whose  re- 
cord is  as  follows:  Andrew  E.,  deceased  in  infancy; 
Sarah  E.,  the  wife  of  Thomas  J.  Kiskadon ;  George 
A.,  married  to  Miss  Florence  A.  Childers;  Anna  J., 
married  James  M.  Ashmore;  William  K.  married 
Miss  Meliuda  Childers;  Melissa  H.  married  James 
E.  Steel;  John  D.  married  Miss  Ida  A.  Geyer; 
James  R.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Samuel  J., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 

James  R.  Honn  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on 
his  father's  farm,  receiving  an  excellent  common- 
school  education,  and  is  now  conducting  a  farm 


containing  ninety  acres,  belonging  to  his  father. 
The  rising  generation  who  are  enjoying  the  im- 
proved methods  of  agriculture  can  hardly  imagine 
or  realize  the  hardships  and  disadvantages  under 
which  their  predecessors  labored  in  the  pioneer  days. 
Our  subject  was  married,  Oct.  13,1886,  to  Miss 
Mary  L.  Zimmerman.  Mrs.  Honn  is  the  daughter 
of  John  B.  and  Elizabeth  (Barnes)  Zimmerman, 
and  was  born  in  this  State  Feb.  17,  1861. 

Mr.  Honn  is  just  beginning  his  career  in  life, 
with  every  promise  of  prosperity  and  success.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  nine 
years,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics  he  uniformly 
casts  his  vote  with  the  Democratic  party. 


?ILLIAM  MYERS  has  been  a  resident  of 
Coles  County  since  the  spring  of  1863, 
when  he  emigrated  with  his  father's  family 
from  Hendricks  County,  Ind.  He  was  born  in 
Miami  County,  Ohio,  April  30,  1844,  and  is  the  son 
of  Amos  Myers,  a  native  of  Hamilton  County. 
His  mother,  Lydia  (Sutphon)  Myers,  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  whence  she  removed  early  in  life  to 
Northern  Ohio,  where  her  parents  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers.  The  parents  of  our  subject  con- 
tinned  residents  of  the  Buckeye  State  until  1849, 
and  then  emigrated  to  Hendricks  County,  Ind., 
when  they  followed  farming  until  1863.  Amos 
Myers  then  determined  to  push  still  further  West- 
ward, and  coming  to  this  county  purchased  152 
acres  of  land  in  Charleston  Township,  which  he 
operated  upon  until  the  fall  of  1878.  Being  then  well 
advanced  in  years  he  wisely  determined  to  abandon 
active  labor,  and  removing  to  the  city  of  Charles- 
ton, lived  there  in  retirement  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  January,  1 884,  after  he  had  passed  his 
seventy-third  birthday.  The  wife  and  mother  had 
preceded  her  husband  to  the  silent  land  in  1865, 
leaving  seven  children,  of  whom  the  record  is  as 
follows :  Irvin  M.  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness at  Indianapolis;  Catherine,  and  Elina,  now 
Mrs.  Feagan,  are  residents  of  Charleston ;  William 
is  living  in  Charleston  Township ;  Mary  is  deceased ; 
Henry  is  farming  in  Osage  County,  Kan. ;  Sarah,  the 


t. 


392 


COLES   COUNTY. 


wife  of  David  W.  Hall,  is  a  resident  of  Sangamon 
County,  111. 

William  Myers  was  a  child  of  five  years  when 
his  father  removed  from  Ohio  to  Indiana.  He  re- 
mained a  member  of  the  parental  household,  com- 
ing with  the  family  to  Illinois  in  1863,  and  assisted 
his  father  and  brothers  in  tilling  the  soil.  Later  he 
varied  his  occupation  for  a  couple  of  years,  and 
engaged  in  butchering.  He  continued  on  the 
homestead  after  the  parents  had  retired  to  Charles- 
ton, and  is  now  the  possessor  of  153  acres  under  a 
good  state  of  cultivation.  Of  late  years  he  has 
dealt  quite  extensively  in  live-stock,  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  representative  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  this  locality. 

The  marriage  of  William  Myers  and  Miss  Pris- 
cilla  B.,  daughter  of  David  and  Harriett  C.  Stites, 
took  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride  in  Charleston 
Township,  Sept.  26,  1882.  The  result  of  this  union 
has  been  two  children — Walter  A.  and  Mary  C. 
Our  subject,  politically,  is  a  genuine  Republican 
and  has  held  the  local  offices  of  his  township.  He 
was  brought  up  in  the  Methodist  faith,  which  was 
the  faith  of  his  parents,  and  has  been  connected 
with  that  denomination  since  eighteen  years  of  age. 
In  all  the  relations  of  life,  as  a  husband,  father, 
citizen  and  business  man,  his  course  has  been  credit- 
able in  the  extreme  and  worthy  of  imitation. 


¥  WILLIAM  H.  PULESTON,  deceased.     The 
early   home   of  this  gentleman  was  across 
the  sea  in  Carmarthen,  South  Wales,  where 
his  birth  took  place  on  the  28th   of  March,    1849. 
He     was   the    son    of  John    and    Sarah    (Phillips) 
Puleston,  the  former  an  Englishman  by  birth,  who 
followed  the  sea  from  early  youth.     During  one  of 
his  voyages  he  formed  the  acquaintance   of  Miss 
Sarah  Phillips,  who  was  a  native  of  his  own  town, 
where  they  were  married. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  third  child  of 
his  parents,  and  when  he  was  about  eighteen  months 
old  they  removed  to  London.  When  three  and 
one-half  years  of  age  he  went  upon  the  streets  of 
London  as  a  newsbo}',  following  this  until  ten  years 
1  old.  His  father  was  still  on  the  water  and  his 


mother  kept  a  news  stand  in  the  great  city.  At 
this  time  John  Puleston,  becoming  wearied  of  his 
arduous  duties,  decided  to  emigrate  to  America. 
One  fine  morning  in  the  spring  of  1858,  he  em- 
barked with  his  family  on  a  sailing-vessel  at 
Liverpool,  and  after  a  voyage  of  twelve  weeks, 
landed  in  New  York  City.  Thence  they  proceeded 
directly  westward,  and  settled  in  Odin,  Marion 
County,  111.,  where  the  father  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  and  where  he  farmed  for  many  years.  He 
was  successful  in  his  New  World  adventure,  and  is 
now  retired  from  active  life,  living  at  his  ease  in 
the  little  city  of  Odin,  lie  still  retains  possession 
of  his  farm  property. 

William  Henry  Puleston  remained  on  the  farm 
with  his  parents  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  in  the 
meantime  having  pursued  quite  a  thorough  course 
of  study  in  the  public  schools.  He  was  now  sent 
to  the  Normal  School  at  Carbondale,  and  being 
fond  of  his  books  and  ambituous  to  excel,  soon 
qualified  himself  for  the  duties  of  a  teacher.  This 
he  pursued  until  his  marriage,  July  19,  1870.  The 
lady  chosen  to  share  his  fortunes  was  Miss  Rebecca, 
the  sixth  child  of  Elisha  and  Rebecca  (Sawyer) 
Linder,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  on  another 
page  in  this  volume.  The  young  people  located 
on  a  farm  in  Mattoon  Township,  upon  which  Mr. 
Puleston  labored  in  the  summer  season  and 
followed  his  profession  in  the  city  schools  in 
winter. 

In  1871  our  subject  took  up  his  residence  near 
Dalton  City,  in  Macon  County,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  which  he  occupied  for  nearly 
five  years,  managing  as  before,  teaching  in  winter 
and  pursuing  agriculture  the  balance  of  the  year. 
He  sold  this  property  in  1876,  and  returned  to 
Coles  County,  locating  upon  eight}'  acres  which  he 
had  purchased  in  Mattoon  Township.  Here  he  put 
up  a  neat  cottage,  and  prepared  to  establish  a  per- 
manent home,  being  employed  as  heretofore. 
Failing  health,  however,  forced  him  to  leave  the 
farm  and  seek  a  different  climate.  In  June,  1885, 
he  crossed  the  Mississippi  and  going  into  Colorado, 
located  at  a  point  near  the  Greenhorn  Mountains, 
in  Pueblo  County.  Here  he  began  his  favorite 
old  occupation  as  a  teacher,  and  his  family  joined 
him  after  harvest.  A  few  months  later  his  ' 


COLES   COUNTY. 


393 


weakened  condition  obliged  him  to  abandon  his 
school,  which,  however,  was  carried  on  by  his  ex- 
cellent wife.  He  fought  hard  for  his  life,  but  con- 
sumption had  seized  upon  him  with  its  relentless 
grasp  and  he  passed  away  on  the  6th  of  January, 
1886.  The  bereaved  wife  at  once  prepared  to  re- 
turn to  Illinois,  and  brought  his  remains  to  be  laid 
at  rest  near  his  old  Borne  in  Dodge  Grove  Ceme- 
tery. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Puleston  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  the  former 
had  been  an  active  Sunday-school  worker  and  effi- 
cient Superintendent  for  several  years.  He  is 
greatly  missed  in  his  family  and  in  his  neighbor- 
hood, where  his  kindly  dispositiou  and  excellent 
qualities  of  heart  had  endeared  him  to  all.  His 
three  living  children  are  Elisha  Thomas,  John 
Samuel  and  William  Henry,  all  at  home  with  their 
mother.  The  only  daughter,  Mary  Rebecca,  died 
when  one  month  old. 


i 

4' 


TEPHEN  DEXTER  DOLE,  deceased.  The 
name  which  stands  at  the  head  of  this 
sketch  is  that  of  a  prominent  and  deeply 
lamented  citizen  of  Mattoon,  Coles  County. 
Mr.  Dole  was  the  son  of  Enoch  and  Harriet  (Dex- 
ter) Dole,  whose  personal  history  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  He  was  born  Dec.  23,  1813,  in  New 
Bedford,  N.  H.,  and  when  a  child  went  with  his 
parents  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  and  with  his  two  brothers  engaged  in 
the  livery  business.  This  subsequently  led  to  their 
engaging  in  stock-dealing,  after  their  removal  to 
Illinois,  and  still  later,  the  three  brothers  became 
land-owners  in  this  county,  where  Mr.  Dole  per- 
manently settled  in  about  the  year  1850,  on  section 
7,  Mattoon  Township.  The"  three  brothers  lived 
together,  and  were  successful  in  business,  sharing 
their  prosperity,  and  holding  their  possessions 
in  common,  until  about  1875.  The  property  was 
then  divided,  and  the  old  homestead  fell  to  Ste- 
phen Dexter's  lot,  and  he  occupied  it  until  his 
death. 

November  23,  1853,  Stephen    Dexter   was  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Emily  J.  Ogden.     Mrs.  Dole   was   the 


widow  of  Michael  Ogden,  by  whom  she  had  three 
children — Nancy  A.,  James  P.  and  Sarah  E.  James 
is  now  dead,  and  the  daughters  are  both  married — 
Nancy  A.  the  wife  of  Dr.  Lloyd,  and  living  in 
Missouri,  and  Sarah  E.  the  wife  of  William  A. 
Rush,  a  farmer  residing  near  Mattoon.  Mrs.  Dole 
is  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Nancy  (Orchard) 
Tipton,  natives  of  Kentucky,  where  their  daughter 
Emily  was  born,  near  Mt.  Sterling,  March  8,  1823. 
Her  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in  about  1832,  and 
were  among  the  early  settlers  near  Mattoon.  Mr. 
Tipton  was  identified  with  the  early  history  of  the 
State,  and  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  He  re- 
sided in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  and  died  in  187.1,  in  his 
seventy-fifth  year. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Dole  settled  on  section  7, 
of  this  township,  where  his  widow  now  resides. 
The  land  at  that  time  was  all  wild,  uncultivated 
prairie,  no  fences  even  having  been  made  between 
their  farm  and  the  town.  Mr.  Dole  was  distin- 
guished for  activity  and  enterprise,  and  was  among 
the  first  to  aid  in  establishing  the  city  of  Mattoon. 
Fie  became  the  principal  owner  of  its  banking  in- 
stitutions, and  with  his  brothers  assisted  in  the 
erection  of  the  public  buildings  which  bear  their 
name.  Mr.  Dole  was  the  fortunate  possessor  of  a 
vigorous  physique,  and  pushed  his  business  enter- 
prises with  as  much  earnestness  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-two as  at  any  period  of  his  life.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dole  had  a  family  of  four  children,  only  two 
of  whom  are  now  living.  Their  names  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Mary,  Frances,  Joseph  E.  and  William  C. 
Joseph  and  William  both  died  in  childhood.  Since 
her  father's  death,  Mary  has  become  the  wife  of  D. 
H.  Oblinger,  a  druggist  of  Mattoon.  She  spends 
every  summer  at  the  homestead,  in  order  to  cheer 
the  loneliness  of  her  widowed  mother. 

Mr.  Dole's  death  occurred  March  18,  1885,  at 
his  country  residence,  leaving  it  indeed  desolate 
and  sorrowful.  His  death  east  a  gloom  over  the 
business  and  social  circles  of  the  city,  where  his 
uprightness,  integrity  of  character,  and  genial  cour- 
tesy had  won  a  large  circle  of  friends.  In  private 
life  he  was  a  faithful  friend,  a  kind  father  and  de- 
voted husband,  and  will  be  mourned  by  his  family 
until  the  home  circle  is  reunited  beyond  the  grave. 


394 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Mr.  Dole  was  a  member  of  the  Universalist  Church, 
and  in  his  daily  life  practiced  the  precepts  of  his 
faith.  His  widow  resides  at  the  homestead  and 
conducts  the  farm,  with  the  aid  and  counsel  of  her 
daughters.  Her  home  is  tasteful  and  elegant, 
and  she  is  passfng  the  closing  years  of  her  life  sur- 
rounded by  the  comforts  acquired  by  a  long  life  of 
activity  and  usefulness. 


<\w)OHN  HENDRIX,  a  prosperous  farmer  re- 
|  siding  in  Paradise  Township,  is  a  worthy  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of 
Illinois.  He  was  born  Nov.  28,  1809,  in 
Bath  County,  Ky.,  and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  (Thompson)  Hendrix.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  Abraham  Heudrix.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  and  married  a  Miss  Goodwin, 
of  Virginia.  The  maternal  grandparents  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia. 

Jacob  Thompson  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but 
his  family  left  their  home  in  that  State,  and  re- 
moved to  Kentucky  in  the  early  days,  when  Dan- 
iel Boone  established  himself  there,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  many  hardy  and  adventurous  pioneers 
from  the  Eastern  States.  Mr.  Hendrix  was  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his  entire 
life,  and  struggled  successfully  with  the  many  priva- 
tions and  disadvantages  of  frontier  life.  He  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  fine  farm,  which  by  industry 
and  energy  he  finally  brought  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
the  county  where  he  resided.  He  subsequently 
moved  to  Ohio,  and  after  remaining  there  two 
years  came  West  again  to  Indiana.  He  made  the 
latter  place  his  home  until  1842,  and  thence  moved 
to  Iowa,  where  his  death  occurred  soon  after.  His 
widow  returned  to  the  old  home  and  friends  in 
Indiana,  where  she  died  in  1846. 

John  Hendrix  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  assisting  his  father  on  the 
farm  during  the  summer  and  attending  the  old  log 
school-house  of  the  primitive  days  during  the  long, 
cold  winters.  The  educational  advantages  of  that 
period  were  exceedingly  limited,  but  John  was  a 
bright,  intelligent  boy,  and  acquired  much  general 


information  and  practical  knowledge.  On  begin- 
ning the  world  for  himself  he  obtained  his  first 
work  among  the  farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home, 
and  remained  in  that  neighborhood  until  he  was 
twenty-eight  years  of  age.  at  which  time  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Nancy  Goar  took  place.  Mrs. 
Hendrix  was  the  daughter  of  Clement  and  Eliza- 
beth (Hart)  Goar.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Hardin  County,  Ky.,  but  removed  from  that  State 
at  an  early  day.  and  settled  in  Illinois,  where  Mr. 
Goar  still  lives  near  Jacksonville,  having  reached 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years.  Mrs.  Hen- 
drix died  Oct.  23,  1854,  leaving  a  family  of  seven 
children,  whose  names  are  as  follows:  George  W., 
Miles  H.,  Iredell  W".,  Samuel  S.,  Martha  E.,  Hiram 
H.  and  William  C.,  all  of  whom  are  living  with  the 
exception  of  George,  who  lost  his  life  in  the  serv- 
ice of  his  country  during  the  Civil  War. 

In  1855  Mr.  Hendrix  was  again  married,  taking 
for  his  wife  Miss  Eliza  Ann  Hart,  the  daughter  of 
Miles  H.  and  Catherine  (Yokum)  Hart,  the  former 
a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  of  Ken- 
tucky. Three  children  were  born  to  them — Eliza- 
beth P.,  Thomas  S.  and  Nancy  C.,  all  of  whom  are 
living.  Their  children  with  one  exception  are  all 
married.  Miles  married  Miss  Georgiana  Hayes; 
Iredell  W.  married  Miss  Jane  Pay  ton;  Samuel  mar- 
ried Miss  Sally  E.  Love;  Martha  E.  became  the 
wife  of  James  R.  Boone.  Mr.  Boone  is  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  residing  in  Utica,  Seward  Co.,  Neb.  He 
and  his  wife  are  mutes,  but  are  well  educated  and 
intelligent,  and  have  two  bright,  interesting  chil- 
dren. Hiram  H.  married  Miss  Laura  A.  Groves: 
William  married  Miss  Alice  Spellman ;  Elizabeth 
became  the  wife  of  Wilson  G.  Hart,  and  Nancy  is 
the  wife  of  William  Surber. 

April  26,  1837,  ,Mr.  Heudrix  made  his  first 
landed  investment  in  Illinois,  purchasing  170  acres 
of  wild  land  on  section  10,  Paradise  Township,  to 
which  he  subsequently  added  thirty  acres,  upon 
which  he  has  resided  for  the  past  fifty  years.  The 
first  settlement  of  the  county  had  been  made  but  a 
few  years  previous,  and  brave  hearts  and  willing 
hands  were  required  to  struggle  successfully  with 
the  hard,  rough  life  of  the  pioneer  days.  Cold 
ar.d  hunger  were  not  the  least  of  the  difficulties  to 
be  encountered,  and  fathers  and  mothers  bitterly 


COLES   COUNTY. 


395 


regretted  the  educational  privileges  of  which  their 
childrenjwere  deprived.  School-houses  were  few 
and  ^remotely  scattered  over  the  vast  stretches  of 
prairie,  and  their  children  were  often  compelled  to 
straggle  through  the  bitter  cold  and  heav3'  snow  of 
winter  for  several  miles  before  reaching  the  nearest 
log  school-house,  where  the  barest  rudiments  of  ed- 
ucation could  be  obtained.  But  among  the  pio- 
neers of  the  earlv  days  were  brave  men  and  noble 
women,  who  accepted  patiently  and  courageously 
the  hardships  and  trials  of  frontier  life.  Mr.  Hen- 
drix  having  come  here  at  so  early  a  day,  has  had 
the  pleasure  of  witnessing  the  development  of  the 
country  from  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness  to  its 
present  state  of  prosperity ;  he  has  aided  in  making 
its  history,  and  the  trials  and  struggles  of  those 
early  days  now 

'•shine  at  last 

Through  memory's  sunset  air. 
Like  mountain  ranges  overpast 
In  purple  radiance  fair." 

Mr.  Hendrix  and  his  family  have  always  been 
interested  in  promoting  measures  calculated  to  im- 
prove the  political  and  moral  status  of  the  county. 
With  his  wife  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has  served  for  many 
years  as  a  Trustee.  They  have  both  been  earnest 
workers  in  the  church,  and  the  Christian  influence 
of  their  daily  lives  has  extended  throughout  the 
community.  Mr.  Hendrix  lias  never  sought  politi- 
cal preferment,  but  always  votes  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 


/1LLIAM  F.  HORTON,  a  prominent  farmer 
and  stock-raiser,  residing  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  and  an  honorable  representative 
of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the  State,  was 
born  on  the  31st  of  January,  1824,  in  Bradford 
County,  Pa.  His  father,  Isaac  J.  Horton,  was  a 
native  of  Maryland,  born  March  11,  1792.  Early 
in  life  he  left  his  Eastern  home  and  removed  to 
Pennsylvania  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and 
where  his  marriage  to  Miss  Ruthem  Ferguson  took 
place.  In  1836  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to  Illinois, 
and  accordingly  procured  a  team,  and  with  his  wife 
and  young  family  started 'on  the  long  overland 
journey.  The  roads  were  rough,  and  in  many 

«• 


places  almost  impassable,  and  there  were  vast 
stretches  of  lonely  prairie  to  be  traversed  before 
their  destination  should  be  reached.  The  Black 
Hawk  War  had  been  successfully  closed  a  few  years 
previously,  but  fear  still  lurked  in  the  hearts  of 
many  white  settlers,  and  they  frequently  shivered 
with  dread  at  the  thought  of  Indian  atrocities, 
which  had  been  committed  so  recently  on  the 
Western  frontier.  But  the  little  band  arrived  safely, 
worn  by  the  wearisome  journey,  but  in  good  health 
and  prepared  to  encounter  the  perils  and  privations 
of  pioneer  life.  They  entered  land  in  Coles  Coun- 
ty, but  resided  in  Edgar  County  until  the  spring  of 
1837,  when  they  settled  in  Pleasant  Grove  Town- 
ship, where  they  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives. 

To  Isaac  Horton  and  his  wife  a  family  of  eight 
children  were  born,  all  of  whom,  with  one  excep- 
tion, grew  to  maturity.  Their  record  is  as  follows: 
Mary  Ann,  the  wife  of  Jesse  Beals;  Amanda,  the 
wife  of  Oliver  Beals;  Isaac  died  Aug.  23,  1850) 
while  crosssing  the  plains  on  his  way  to  California; 
Richard  and  William  (twins) ;  Ruthem,  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Gray,  a  resident  of  Randolph  County,  N.  C. ;  Mi- 
ner, deceased,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  5th  Illinois 
Cavalry;  Richard  was  a  soldier  in  the  5th  Illinois 
Cavalry,  and  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo.,  in 
1863.  Isaac  Horton  was  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
but  his  wife  belonged  to  a  Whig  family,  and  was  so 
imbued  with  the  doctrines  of  that  party  that  all  of 
her  sons  concurred  with  her  political  opinions,  rather 
than  those  of  their  father.  They  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  The  father  died  June  9, 
1863,  and  his  wife,  who  was  born  Aug.  10,  1795, 
died  Aug.  1,  1859. 

William  Horton  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  although  the  advantages  for  education  were 
limited  in  the  pioneer  days,  he  gained  a  practical 
education,  which  has  served  him  through  life.  Feb. 
1,  1849,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emeline  Dryden, 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Abigail  (Henderson) 
Dryden.  Mrs.  Horton  was  born  Sept.  15,  1821,  in 
Bedford  County,  Tenn.,  and  was  ten  years  of  age 
when  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Coles  County,  in 
1831. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Horton  entered  laud  in 
Cumberland  County,  and  was  there  engaged  in 


r 


396 


COLES   COUNTY. 


farming  twelve  years.  He  then  returner)  to  Coles 
County,  and  settled  on  the  homestead,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  His  farm  contains  over  200  acres  of' 
valuable,  well-improved  land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horton 
had  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom  died 
in  childhood.  One  daughter,  the  wife  of  Lewis 
McGinnis,  died  leaving  two  little  girls.  The  names 
of  those  living  are,  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Lewis  McGinnis,  her  deceased  sister's  husband,  and 
William  D. 

Mr.  Horton  was  formerly  a  Republican.  He  is 
not  actively  interested  in  politics,  and  does  not  as- 
pire to  any  official  position.-  He  is  interested  in 
the  temperance  cause,  and  is  now  a  Prohibitionist. 
He  possesses  excellent  business  qualifications,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
molasses  from  sorghum  in  Coles  County,  carrying 
on  an  extensive  business  in  that  line.  He  is  an  Elder 
in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  an 
earnest  worker,  both  in  the  church  and  Sunday- 
school. 


OHN  W.  KING,  proprietor  of  a  popular  res- 
taurant located  at  No.  46  East  Broadway, 
Mattoon,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  pio- 
neers  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  Dec.  26, 
1848,  and  is  the  son  of  William  T.  and  Nancy 
(Hightower)  King,  the  former  a  native  of  North 
and  the  latter  of  South  Carolina.  His  great-grand- 
father served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  pa- 
ternal grandparents,  Andrew  S.  and  Hannah  (Gad- 
dess)  King,  were  natives  of  North  Carolina. 

In  earl}'  life  Andrew  King  served  in  the  War  of 
1812.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  in  the  year  1814, 
moved  with  his  family  to  Shelby  County,  Tenn., 
where  he  remained  engaged  in  farming  until  1832, 
then  coming  to  Montgomery  County,  111.,  entered 
Government  land,  which  he  cultivated  and  im- 
proved, and,  together  with  his  brave  and  self-sacri- 
ficing wife,  encountered  the  perils  and  hardships  of 
pioneer  life  on  the  Western  frontier.  He  made  this 
farm  the  homestead,  and  remained  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1856,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-two. His  wife  died  in  1852.  His  maternal 
grandparents,  Sterling  and  Beersheba  (Davis)  High- 
tower,  were  natives  of  South  Carolina.  Mr.  High- 


tower  was  a  teacher,  and  the  family  subsequently 
left  their  native  State,  and  removed  to  Shelby 
County,  Teun.,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  lives. 

William  T.  King  was  born  Aug.  13,  1805,  and 
was  nine  years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to 
Tennessee.  He  received  a  practical  education,  and 
remained  at  home  assisting  his  father  in  conduct- 
ing the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age. 
His  marriage  then  took  place,  and  the  following  year 
he  came  with  his  young  wife  to  Illinois,  where  they 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Montgomery 
County,  near  Hillsboro.  Mr.  King  entered  Gov- 
ernment land,  which  he  cultivated  and  improved, 
and  while  struggling  with  the  wilderness  to  advance 
the  material  prospects  of  his  family,  did  not  forget 
the  higher  interests  of  spiritual  and  mental  culture. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
with  his  wife  was  an  earnest  worker  in  building  up 
the  cause  of  Christ  in  his  Western  home.  He  took 
a  deep  interest  in  educational  affairs,  and  served 
several  terms  as  School  Director. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  King  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children  born  to  them,  six  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  but  only  three  sons  are  now  living.  Their 
record  is  as  follows:  James  A.,  a  carpenter  resid- 
ing in  Montgomery  County,  111. ;  John  W.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  and  Thomas  H.,  the  proprietor 
of  a  restaurant  in  Champaign  County,  111.  Will- 
iam King  died  at  the  old  homestead  where  he  had 
lived  for  more  than  a  half  a  century,  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  His  widow  is  now  living  at  the 
home  of  her  son,  John  W.,  in  Mattoon,  having 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
She  has  passed  through  many  trials  and  vicissi- 
tudes, but  her  faith  has  ever  rested  upon  Him  who 
will  not  forsake  her  now  that  her  head  is  crowned 
with  gray  hairs,  and  her  life  with  many  years. 

John  King  attended  school  from  the  age  of  seven 
to  fifteen,  in  the  meantime  assisting  his  father  in 
conducting  the  farm.  He  remained  at  home  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  then  for  a  time 
obtained  employment  on  the  neighboring  farms. 
In  1871  he  was  married  to  Miss  Melinda  E. 
Hume.  Mrs.  King  is  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Mason)  Hume,  and  was  born  in  Pike 
County,  111.  Mr.  Hume  was  a  fanner  in  this  State, 


r 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


397 


and  at  the  call  of  his  country  left  his  business  and 
family  to  serve  in  the  Civil  War.  He  belonged  to 
the  116th  Illinois  Regiment,  and  in  1864  died  at  a 
hospital  in  Chicago,  of  illness  resulting  from  wounds 
and  exposure  while  in  the  army. 

Mr.  King  left  his  native  county  in  1873,  and  re- 
moved to  Jacksonville,  where  he  took  charge  of  the 
farm  and  fine  stock  belonging  to  Mr.  Goltrie. 
But  his  inclinations  and  business  abilities  did 
not  lie  in  the  direction  of  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  after  remaining  there  two  years  he  came  to 
Mattoou,  where  he  was  employed  by  the  I.  &  St.  L. 
R.  R.  as  fireman,  for  four  years  and  six  months. 
He  was  then  promoted  to  the  position  of  locomo- 
tive engineer,  and  remained  with  them  until  1884, 
when  he  opened  his  present  business,  in  which  he 
has  met  with  marked  success.  In  1886  Mr.  King 
was  elected  Assistant  Supervisor  by  the  Democratic 
partj7,  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 
Engineers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  in  which  the  former  has  been  a 
Steward  since  1886. 


)  DWIN  W.  BROWN,  one  of  the  successful 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Ashmore  Town- 
ship, residing  on  section  11,  was  born  July 
4,  1855,  in  this  township.  His  parents  were  Will- 
iam H.  and  Emily  (Buck)  Brown,  natives  of  New 
York.  William  H.  Brown  was  born  in  Onandaga 
County,  N.  Y.,  March  23, 1813.  His  parents  moved 
to  Kentucky  when  he  was  about  four  years  of  age, 
but  not  feeling  satisfied  there  caine  to  Lawrence 
County,  111.,  a  few  years  later.  In  1825  they 
changed  their  location  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and 
William  H.  was  a  mere  boy  when  he  assisted  in 
building  their  log  cabin  out  on  the  broad,  lonely 
prairie,  covered  with  long,  rank  grass  and  brilliant 
wild  flowers,  and  scantily  populated  except  by  deer 
and  wolves.  He  afterward  became  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  this  township,  having  come  here  in 
about  the  year  1839.  Nov.  4,  1835,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elizabeth  McGahin.  She  was  of  Irish 
descent,  and  a  native  of  Clark  County,  111.,  but 
their  married  life  was  of  brief  duration,  the  be- 


loved wife  and  mother  being  taken  from  her  home 
by  death  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  leav- 
ing one  son,  William,  born  Jan.  10,  1837.  When 
the  smouldering  flames  of  the  Civil  War  broke  out, 
this  son,  then  grown  to  manhood,  enlisted  in  the 
service  of  his  country  as  Orderly  Sergeant,  and 
was  killed  Sept.  11,  1863,  near  Little  Rock,  Ark. 

June  13,  1839,  William  H.  Brown  was  united  in 
marriage  the  second  time,  to  a  widow  lady,  Mrs. 
Emily  (Olmstead)  Buck.  The  following  is  the  rec- 
ord of  their  family:  John,  Elizabeth;  Harriet, 
who  married  James  Bull;  George  W.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  ;  .Charles  F.,  who  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Timmons;  Emma  A.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  nineteen ;  James  H. ;  Edwin  W.,  who  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography,  and  Francis  A.,  who  married 
Miss  Maggie  Myers.  John,  the  first  born  of  this 
family,  also  served  in  the  Civil  War,  and  although 
his  life  did  not  fall  a  sacrifice,  he  has  since  suffered 
severely  from  disease  contracted  while  in  the  army, 
and  is  now  at  Saylor  Springs  for  his  health. 

Mrs.  William  II.  Brown  died  in  October,  1886. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and -was 
greatly  beloved  by  her  family  and  a  large  circle  of 
friends.  William  H.  Brown  has  always  been  much 
interested  in  promoting  the  growth  of  the  township. 
He  has  held  the  offices  of  School  Director  and  Road 
Commissioner  for  fifteen  years.  He  has  been  for 
many  years  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
Church,  and  has  held  several  official  positions  in  the 
organization. 

Edwin  W.  Brown,  while  a  boy,  attended  the 
common  schools  of  the  county,  and  afterward  fin- 
ished his  education  at  Westfield  College.  Dec.  28, 
1881,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Reinoehl,  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois,  born  in  1862,  and  the  daughter  of 
George  and  Henrietta  Reinoehl.  Her  parents,  both 
living,  are  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  father  is 
a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade.  The  names  of 
their  children  are  :  Clinton,  who  married  Miss  Mat- 
tie  Sutherland;  Alice,  the  wife  of  Edwin  Brown; 
Emma,  Charles  and  Lulu.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown 
have  two  bright  little  girls,  Vivian  May  and  Hen- 
rietta F.,  who  resemble  their  mother. 

Mr.  Brown  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  comprising 
100  acres  of  valuable  land,  on  which  there  is  a 
spring  of  living  water,  which  renders  it  especially 


f 


398 


COLES   COUNTY. 


adapted  to  stock-raising,  and  is  well  stocked  with 
high  grades  of  cattle.  He  has  a  pleasant  farm  resi- 
dence erected  in  1881.  Mr.  Brown  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  In  poli- 
tics he  has  always  been  a  Republican,  but  is  a  Pro- 
hibitionist on  the  temperance  question. 


i 


eG.  PECK,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Mat- 
toon  Gazette,  became  connected  with  the 
office  in  November,  1884.  He  is  of  New 
England  birth,  first  opening  his  eyes  to  the  light  in 
Brookfleld,  Conn.,  March  17,  1853.  His  parents 
were  Game  M.  and  Sarah  T.  (Ruggles)  Peck.  The 
maternal  grandparents  were  Samuel  and  Nancy 
Ruggles,  the  latter  being  Miss  Wells  in  her  girlhood, 
and  a  niece  of  Gov.  Trumbull,  of  Connecticut,  who 
occupied  this  high  office  during  the  Revolutionary 
War.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  John 
Ruggles  by  name,  served  as  a  Major  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War.  The  family  is  of  English  origin,  the 
first  representatives  settling  in  this  country  in  about 
1640.  Samuel  Ruggles  and  his  wife.  Nancy,  in 
about  1819,  went  to  the  Sandwich  Islands  as  mission- 
aries and  there  their  daughter,  Sarah  T.,  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  was  born.  She  was  married 
to  Garrie  M.  Peck  in  1 848,  and  they  located  in 
Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  where  the  death  of  the  father  took 
place  in  December,  1852. 

Four  years  later  the  mother,  with  her  family,  re- 
moved to  Ft.  Atkinson,  Wis.,  where  our  subject 
spent  his  childhood  and  youth,  and  when  sixteen 
years  of  age  was  apprenticed  to  a  jeweler,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  the  summer  of  1872.  He 
then  visited  Chicago,  remaining,  however,  only 
about  six  months,  and  returning  to  Wisconsin  went 
into  a  newspaper  office  where  he  learned  the  print- 
er's trade,  and  continued  until  February,  1874. 
Then  coming  to  Mattoon,  he  became  the  employe 
of  C.  B.  Bostwick  of  the  Gazette,  until  Sept.  12, 
1879.  Afterward  he  repaired  to  Indianapolis  and 
was  connected  with  the  daily  Journal  until  March 
1,  1881.  Soon  afterward  he  returned  to  Mattoon 
and  re-entered  the  Gazette  office  where  he  contin- 
ued until  Nov.  10,  1884,  when  he  became  associa- 


ted  with  the  paper,  which  has  since   been   operated 
under  the  firm  name  of  C.  B.  Bostwick  &  Co. 

Mr.  Peck  was  married  at  Mattoon,  Jan.  2,  1 878, 
to  Miss  Nancy  J.  Con  way  of  the  same  place.  Of 
this  union  there  have  been  born  three  children — 
Ida  Frances,  Howard  Leon  and  Clara  Louise.  Mr. 
Peck,  politically,  is  an  uncompromising  Republican, 
loving  liberty  and  believing  in  equal  rights  for  all. 
These  qualities  were  transmitted  to  him  in  a  direct 
line,  his  grandfather,  Samuel  Ruggles,  having  been, 
a  strong  Abolitionist  and  giving  the  best  years  of 
his  life  to  the  cause  of  human  freedom. 

Our  subject  in  1874  joined  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  became  identified  with  the  Uniform  Rank,  K. 
of  P.,  in  November,  1885.  He  has  passed  the  chairs 
in  this  order  and  is  Commander  of  the  Division,  be- 
ing a  great  admirer  of  the  principles  of  the  order. 
He  joined  the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor  in 
April,  1883,  and  has  served  three  terms  as  Protector. 


J"    AMES  F.  SNOWDEN,   M.   D.,  is  a  young- 
physician    of    Pleasant    Grove    Township, 
whose  ability  and  skill  are   rapidly  placing 
'    him  in  the  foremost  ranks  of  his  profession. 
He  was  born  Aug.  23,  1849,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
F.  and  Maria  (Glenn)  Snowden,  a  history  of  whom 
is  given  in    the  sketch  of  William   D.    Snowden. 
Dr.  Suowden  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
received    an    excellent  common-school  education. 
Fjpm    boyhood    he    possessed     a    studious    and 
thoughtful   mind,    which   was  expanded    and  de- 
veloped by  judicious  self-instruction  at  home.     He 
is  one  whom  Nature  has  apparently  chosen  .to  serve 
in  her  temple  of  healing,  and  those  only  make  the 
truest  and  best  physicians. 

Our  subject  was  married,  Feb.  14,  1869,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Hackley.  Mrs.  Snowden-  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  John  R.  and  Susanna  Hackley,  and  was  born 
April  25,  1849,  in  Grayson  County,  Ky.  It  was 
not  until  after  his  marriage  that  Dr.  Snowden  de- 
cided to  enter  the  medical  profession.  He  first 
purchased  land  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1879, 
and  then  yielding  to  his  inclinations,  began  the 
study  of  medicine,  applying  himself  closely  to  his 
chosen  work  at  home,  under  the  instruction  of  Dr. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

OF  ILLlt'OIS 


COLES   COUNTY. 


401 


P.  A.  Kemper.  In  1882  he  entered  the  medical 
college  at  Indianapolis,  and  was  graduated  in  1884. 
In  order  to  perfect  himself  still  more  in  his  pro- 
fession he  has  recently  taken  a  physician's  course  at 
one  of  the  medical  colleges  in  Chicago.  He  makes 
a  specialty  of  treating  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear, 
and  his  practice  extends  over  a  large  area. 

Dr.  Snowden  has  never  connected  himself  with 
any  society  or  order.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party  in  politics,  but  since  entering  the 
medical  profession  has  given  little  attention  to 
public  affairs.  Formerly  he  served  in  several  local 
offices,  but  his  time  and  interests  are  concentrated 
upon  the  professional  duties  of  a  large  practice. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Snowden  have  an  interesting  family 
of  four  children  —  John  H.,  Luella,  Delia  and 
Emma. 


R.  A.  C.  BUTLER,  physician  and  surgeon, 
residing  at  Diona,  is  a  native  of  Logans- 
port,  Ind.,  his  birth  taking  place  May  26, 
1837.  He  prosecuted  his  medical  studies 
under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  John  Williams,  of  Rose 
Hill,  and  commenced  practice  at  Diona  in  the  fall 
of  1866.  During  a  residence  of  more  than  twenty 
years  among  the  people  of  that  section,  he  has  built 
up  a  good  practice  and  fully  established  himself  in 
their  esteem  and  confidence. 

Dr.  Butler  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  town, 
receiving  a  very  limited  education,  and  after  reach- 
ing his  majority  was  married,  Oct.  12,  1856,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Howrey.  Mrs.  Butler  was  born 
in  Shelby  County,  Ind.,  Oct.  11,  1841,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Alvira  Howrey.  After  mar- 
riage our  subject  continued  on  his  mother's  home- 
stead until  1857.  Then,  coming  to  Jasper  County, 
111.,  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  improved  land  in 
Crooked  Creek  Township,  where  he  carried  on 
farming-  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  become  the  father  of  one 
child,  Malinda  Jane.  The  wife  and  mother  closed 
her  eyes  to  earthly  scenes  Dec.  9,  1859,  a  little 
over  three  years  after  her  marriage.  Their  little 
daughter  was  reared  by  her  grandparents,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Howrey. 

Upon  the  call  for  volunteers  made  immediately 


after  the  firing  upon  Ft.  Sumter,  Dr.  Butler  was  one 
of  the  first  to  respond,  enlisting  in  May,  1861,  in 
Co.  K,  21st  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  throe  years 
under  command  of  Gen.  Grant.  He  was  in  many 
of  the  important  battles  of  the  war  and  endured 
with  bravery  and  fortitude  all  the  vicissitudes  of 
a  soldier's  life.  With  his  comrades  he  met  the  enemy 
at  Frederickstown,  Corinth,  Perryville,  Stone  River, 
Liberty  Gap,  Chickamauga,  Resaca,  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Jonesboro,  Franklin  and  Nashville.  After 
serving  out  his  term  of  enlistment  he  re-entered 
the  ranks,  becoming  a  member  of  Co.  G,  50th  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  at  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Dec.  15, 
1864,  was  wounded  in  the  left  arm,  which  since 
then  has  been  useless  and  on  account  of  which  he 
draws  a  pension  of  130  per  month. 

Dr.  Butler  completed  his  medical  studies  after 
returning  from  the  army,  and  on  the  5th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1866,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth (Houts)  Rundell.  She  was  born  Oct.  19,  1839, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Suquinda  Houts, 
the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Ger- 
man ancestry.  His  wife  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
and  they  came  to  this  county  during  the  pioneer 
days,  locating  in  Hutton  Township.  They  had  but 
three  children :  Mary  M.,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Tay- 
lor, of  Gibson  County,  Ind.;  Jacob  D.,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Williams,  and  is  a  resident  of  Ar- 
kansas, and  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Butler,  who  was  the 
eldest.  Of  her  marriage  with  J.  W.  Rundell  there 
were  born  three  children :  Florence  E.,  the  wife  of 
Robert  Edmond,  of  Charleston;  Mary  B.,  who  only 
lived  seven  days,  and  Hester  A.,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Cecil,  of  Pleasant  Grove. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Butler  became  the  parents  of  ten 
children:  Ida  May.  born  Aug.  1,  1867,  is  the  wife 
of  James  Smith,  of  Diona;  Edmond  A.,  born  in 
1868,  died  in  infancy;  Etta  V.,born  July  11,  1869; 
John  O.,  born  Feb.  18,  1872,  died  Dec.  10,  1881; 
Minnie  T.,  born  Dec.  31,  1873;  Albert  L.,  Nov. 
10,  1875;  Owen  C.,  Oct.  18,  1877;  Carrie  M.,  Jan. 
1,  1879;  Odessa  B.,  Jan.  27,  1882;  Frank  O.  was 
born  Dec.  31,  1883,  and  died  Oct.  5,  1886.  They 
occupy  a  pleasant  home  in  Diona  which  is  the  resort 
of  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends.  The  Doctor  is 
a  member  of  the  Medical  Academy  at  Charleston, 
111.,  and  socially  belongs  to  J.  J.  Adams  Post  No. 


f. 


402 


COLES   COUNTY. 


548,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Janesville,  111.     Politically,  "  he 
votes  the  way  he  shot." 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  lived 
on  a  farm  in  South  Carolina  for  a  time  after  their 
marriage,  and  then  removed  to  a  point  near  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  where  the}'  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  son  and 
daughter  only:  Annie  married  a  Mr.  Royal,  of 
New  York  City,  who  was  editor  of  a  paper  there 
entitled  the  Huntress.  Mrs.  R.,  who  was  finely 
educated,  died  in  about  1857.  James,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  Oct.  18,  1787,  in  Lexington, 
Ky.,  and  with  his  sister,  received  a  more  than  or- 
dinarily good  education.  The  parents  died  when 
the  children  were  young,  and  the  advantages  which 
•  the  father  of  our  subject  received  were  due  to 
the  exertions  of  his  sister.  -After  completing 
his  studies  he  learned  the  saddler's  trade,  which 
he  followed  mostly  through  life.  He  was  mar- 
ried at  Connersville,  Ind.,  in  the  spring  of  1832, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hamilton.  She  was  born  Jan. 
1 ,  1 800,  and  was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
(Caldwell)  Hamilton,  who  were  natives  of  South 
Carolina.  Shortly  after  their  marriage  they  re- 
moved to  Connersville,  Ind.,  and  thence  to  Logans- 
port,  where  Mr.  Butler  died  Oct.  1,  1845.  His  I 
widow  became  the  wife  of  Nathan  Moore,  June  11,  « 
1848.  Mr.  M.  died  in  1852,  and  the  mother  of  our  i 
subject,  Aug.  9,  1862.  She  was  a  lady  highly  re- 
spected in  her  community  and  an  active  member  of  ! 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

James  Butler  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability  and  served  one  term  in  the  Indiana  Legis- 
lature during  1840.  He  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  a  number  of  years,  and  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to 
Connersville  Lodge  No.  15.  Our  subject  has  in  his 
possession  a  card  issued  to  his  father  by  this  lodge, 
dated  Oct.  22,  1836,  and  signed  by  John  Wiley, 
W.  M..  and  John  D.  Ross,  Secretary.  The  parental 
household  included  five  children:  Samuel  S.  per- 
fected himself  in  the  study  of  law  and  built  up  a 
good  practice  at  Mt.  Ayr,  Iowa,  where  his  death 
took  place  May  10,  1863;  A.  C.,  of  our  sketch,  was 
the  second  child;  Philip  M.  died  when  a  lad  of  five 
years,  and  Margaret  when  eleven  years  of  age. 
Warren  C.,  during  the  late  war  enlisted  in  Co.  C, 


97th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,. where  he  served  two  years. 
Afterward  he  commenced  teaching,  which  he  fol- 
lowed the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  married  Miss 
Ella  Furry  in  1876,  and  died  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  Feb.  4,  1881.  He  left  one  child  named 
Byron.  His  widow  is  still  living  in  this  county. 

Portraits  of  Dr.   A.  C.  Butler  and  his  wife  are 
shown  on  an  adjoining  page. 


H.  BIDLE,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Bidle  &  Co.,  merchants  in  Lerna,  111., 
was  born  Oct.  12,  1861,  in  Campbell, 
Coles  County,  and  is  the  son  of  Gottlieb 
and  Sophronia  (Walker)  Bidle.  During  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  he  attended  the  common  schools 
of  the  county  and  the  college  at  Westfield,  111., 
and  received  an  excellent  business  education.  He 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  but  evinced  no 
taste  for  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  1881  engaged 
as  clerk  in  the  grocery  store  of  W.  A.  Snyder,  at 
Westfield,  111.  He  remained  with  them  two 
years,  an'd  then  returned  to  the  home  farm,  where 
he  remained  until  1887.  He  then  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  business  of  R.  H.  Osborn,  at  Lerna, 
in  which  he  is  now  engaged.  On  the  6th  of 
March,  1883,  Mr.  Bidle  was  married  to  Miss  Nellie 
Horner,  of  Kokomo,  Howard  Co.,  Ind.  They  have 
one  son,  George  A.  Mr.  Bidle  is  one  of  the 
rising  young  men  of  the  county,  and  his  excellent 
business  qualifications  and  genial  disposition  have 
won  a  large  circle  of  friends.  He  is  interested  in 
public  affairs,  and  has  already  served  as  Clerk  and 
Commissioner  of  Highways.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican.  His  career  in  life  is  but  just  opening, 
and  he  is  one  of  whom  all  may  reasonably  predict 
prosperity  and  success. 


G.  PATTERSON,  a  prosperous  farmer 
residing  on  section  3,  Mattoon  Township, 
is  numbered  among  the  most  enterprising 
citizens  of  this  county.  He  was  born  Oct.  31, 
1835,  in  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  eldest 
sou  of  Alexander  and  Sarah  (Burkani)  Patterson 


,n,    ' 

t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


403 


the  former  born  April  6,  1807,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  Robert  and  Rachel  (Roberts) 
Patterson,  the  former  a  native  of  Germany  and  the 
latter  of  Ireland,  and  both  emigrated  to  America 
with  their  parents  in  childhood.  His  maternal 
grandparents  were  Absalom  and  Mary  (Crisswell) 
Burkam.  They  were  natives  of  Virginia  and 
emigrated  at  a  very  early  day  to  Indiana. 

Absalom  Burkam  enlisted  and  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  War  when  a  young  man. 
He  was  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  Connersville,  Ind., 
in  the  pioneer  days,  and  at  that  time  the  early 
settlers  were  greatly  disturbed  by  Indians,  of  which 
there  were  many  hostile  tribes  in  the  Northwest. 
On  one  occasion  several  of  them  who  had  been 
partaking  too  freely  of  liquor,  came  into  the  hotel, 
and  one  of  them  seized  a  little  son  of  Mr.  Burk- 
am, and  before  airy  one  could  restrain  him,  delib- 
erately pitched  the.  boy  into  the  fire.  Others  pres- 
ent saved  the  child's  life,  and  the  Indian  fled. 
Mr.  B.  subsequently  met  the  Indian,  and  a  per- 
sonal encounter  ensued,  during  which  the  former 
was 'severely;  wounded  on  the  head  with  a  toma- 
hawk; the  Indian  again  escaped,  but  never  re- 
turned. 

Alexander  Patterson  was  a  farmer,  and  began 
life  for  himself  in  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  was  a 
public-spirited  man,  and  was  always  actively 
interested  in  promoting  the  progressive  ideas  of 
the  day.  For  many  years  he  served  as  Alderman 
in  Lawrenceburg.  the  county  seat  of  Dearborn 
County ,Jnd.,  where  he  resided.  In  1874  he  re- 
moved to  this  county,  where  the  closing  years  of 
his  life  were  spent,  his  death  occurring  Sept.  24, 
1877,  at  the  age  of  seventy. 

Ezra  Patterson  received  a  practical  education  at 
the  public  schools,  and  resided  at  the  homestead 
until  he  attained  the  age  of  twenty-two,  when  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Hill  took  place,  Oct.  18, 
1857.  Mrs.  Patterson  is  the  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Letitia  (Orr)  Hill.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Ohio,  where  their  daughter  Sarah  was  born,  Oct. 
31,  1835,  on  the  same  day  of  the  month  and  year 
as  her  husband.  This  coincidence  likewise  occurs 
with  her  sister  and  his  brother.  After  his  marriage, 


Mr.  Patterson  settled  in  Dearborn  County,  Ind., 
where  he  remained  eleven  years  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  then  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
and  purchased  172  acres  of  improved  land  in 
Coles  County,  locating  on  section  3,  Mattoon 
Township,  where  he  made  his  permanent  home. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patterson  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren— Mary,  Ida,  Alexander,  Cora  and  Grace.  'The 
two  elder  children  are  dead ;  Mary  was  the  wife 
of  Pinkney  Jefferson,  of  this  county,  and  the 
others  reside  on  the  homestead. 

Mr.  Patterson's  farm  is  well  stocked  with  a  fine 
assortment  of  cattle,  horses,  sheep  and  hogs.  He 
is  a  systematic,  enterprising  farmer  and  carries  on 
an  extensive  and  successful  business.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Grange  and  is  interested  in 
politics,  voting  always  with  the  Democratic  party, 
by  which  he  has  been  frequently  elected  to  the 
office  of  Road  Commissioner.  He  does  not  seek 
political  preferment,  his  business  affairs  occupying 
his  time  and  attention  almost  exclusively. 


ONATHAN  J.  PEMBERTON,  retired  mer- 
chant, and  a  resident  of  the  village  of 
Oakland,  first  drew  breath  in  Washington 
Count}',  Va.,  Nov.  5,  1814.  He  was  bred 
to  farm  pursuits,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  remaining  under  the  home  roof 
until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced 
business  for  himself  as  a  merchant.  His  course 
through  life  has  been  marked  by  more  than  ordinary 
business  capacity,  and  he  was  happily  given  those 
elements  of  character  which  have  always  con- 
strained him  to  the  manly  course  in  life  whereby  he 
has  secured  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
citizens. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Stanton  and  Sarah 
(King)  Pemberton.  also  natives  of  Virginia,  where 
they  were  reared,  and  married  in  1804.  Stanton 
Pemberton  was  born  in  1776,  the  year  distin- 
guished by  the  declaration  of  American  independ- 
ence, and  was  trained  to  those  qualities  of  industiy 
and  enterprise  which  made  him  a  successful  busi- 
ness man.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
also  ran  a  flouring  and  carding  mill  in  his  native 


f 


i  .     404 


COLES    COUNTY. 


State.  He  emigrated  with  his  family  to  Illinois  in 
the  fall  of  1831,  and  locating  in  East  Oakland 
Township,  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  his 
death  taking  place  in  1841.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  the  proprietor  of  a  good  farm,  and 
had  established  a  comfortable  home  for  his  family. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  1780,  and 
survived  her  husband  about  nine  years.  With  the 
exception  of  one,  their  ten  children  all  grew  to  ma- 
ture years.  They  were  named  respectively,  Alfred 
D. ;  John,  who  died  in  infancy;  Harvey  G.,  Eliza 
A.,  Claybourne  C.,  Sarah  A.;  Jonathan  J.,  of  our 
sketch;  Susan  A.,  Henry  A.,  and  Edna  A.,  all  de- 
ceased excepting  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Pemberton,  after  becoming  established  in 
business,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Clarinda 
Davis,  a  native  of  his  own  State,  born  near  Nor- 
folk, Va.,  in  1816.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been 
interested  in  the  building  of  the  Narrow- Gauge 
Railroad  from  Toledo  to  St.  Louis,  and  had  become 
security  for  the  company  to  the  amount  of  about 
111,000,  the  half  of  which  he  lost.  He  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office  he  has  held  for  a 
period  of  two  terms,  and  also  served  as  Assessor 
and  occupied  other  positions  of  trust.  During  the 
war  he  was  appointed  Internal  Revenue  Assessor 
for  the  north  half  of  Coles  County,  in  which  capac- 
ity he  served  about  four  years.  In  1852  he  was 
appointed  Postmaster  of  Oakland,  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Millard  Fillmore,  and  held  the  office 
during  Pierce's  administration.  He  has  also  been 
a  member  of  the  Town  Council,  and  is  at  present 
one  of  the  Directors  of  the  Bank  at  Oakland. 

Mr.  Pemberton  was  remarkably  fortunate  in 
merchandising,  and  while  in  business  carried  the 
largest  stock  of  goods  of  any  house  in  this  part  of 
the  county.  He  has  considerable  real  estate  in  the 
town,  and  occupies  a  fine  residence  provided  with 
all  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  modern  life. 
He  has  a  valuable  fruit  orchard  of  six  acres  near 
San  Jose,  Cal.,  which  contains  the  choicest  varieties 
of  cherries,  prunes,  apricots,  etc.,  and  for  which  he 
paid  $1,000  per  acre.  This  is  provided  with  a  good 
dwelling  and  outhouses  and  everything  convenient 
for  the  gathering  in  and  shipping  of  the  products  of 
the  orchard. 

Mr.   Pemberton,  politically,  is  a   Republican  of 


the  first  water.  He  was  reared  in  the  doctrines  of 
the  Old-School  Presbyterian  Church,  his  parents 
having  been  devoted  members  of  that  organization, 
but  Mr.  P.,  in  1838,  connected  himself  with  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterians. 


ICHAEL  E.  O'HAIR  is  the  proprietor  of 
582  acres  of  land  on  sections  36  and  1,  in 
Seven  Hickory  and  Morgan  Townships,  all 
of  which  is  connected.  He  was  born  in 
the  Blue  Grass  regions,  Feb.  22,  1829,  being  a 
native  of  Morgan  County,  Ky.,  and  the  son  of  John 
and  Eliza  (Hardwick)  O'Hair,  natives  of  the  same 
State.  They  grew  up  together  in  the  same 
locality,  and  were  married  in  1828.  They  con- 
tinued in  their  native  State  a  number  of  years 
after  their  marriage,  and  in  1842  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  where  the  father  of  our  subject  engaged 
extensively  in  farming,  and  rested  from  his  earthly 
labors  in  September,  1886,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one 
years,  six  months  and  eight  days.  The  mother 
had  passed  to  the  other  life  the  previous  year. 

The  parental  family  included  eight  children,  of 
whom  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  the  eldest. 
The  record  is  as  follows:  Polly,  born  in  1832,  be- 
came the  wife  of  J.  W.  Frazier,  a  native  of  Spencer 
County,  Ky.,  and  they  are  now  living  in  Seven 
Hickory  Township;  William  H.  married  Jane 
Frazier,  and  is  farming  and  stock-raising  in  Kan- 
sas; John  H.  married  Miss  Eveline  Swango,  of 
Kentucky,  and  died  iu  Edgar  County,  in  the  fall  of 
1873-;  he  was  a  man  of  much  ability,  and  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  Coles  County  in  the  fall  of  1860, 
serving  two  terras.  He  was  the  owner  of  a  good 
farm  and  carried  on  agriculture  successfully.  His 
widow  is  now  a  resident  of  Edgar  County.  James 
married  Miss  Diana  Dougherty;  he  died  in  1866, 
and  his  widow  is  living  in  Edgar  County.  Sarah 
died  when  a  child  of  eleven  years,  and  Calvin 
when  about  four  years  of  age;  Sarah  (2d)  married 
William  Elledge,  who  accidentally  killed  himself  in 
about  1876;  she  resides  in  Edgar  County. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch   passed  his  childhood 


»df 

r1 


COLES    COUNTY. 


and  youth  after  the  manner  of  most  farmers'  sons, 
receiving  a  limited  education  in  the  subscription 
schools.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  un- 
til reaching  his  majority,  and  then  joined  the 
caravan  bound  for  the  gold  fields  of  California. 
The  overland  journey  was  accomplished  after  the 
space  of  five  months,  and  young  O'Hair  entered  the 
mines,  where  he  was  engaged  a  part  of  the  time  in 
searching  for  the  yellow  ore,  and  also  kept  a  hotel 
and  a  store,  passing  between  two  and  three  years  on 
the  Pacific  Slope.  He  was  very  successful,  and  started 
homeward  with  quite  a  little  fortune.  He  made 
the  return  trip  by  water,  crossing  Central  America 
to  Havanna,  where  he  remained  two  weeks,  and 
then  proceeding  to  New  Orleans,  came  up  the 
river  to  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  from  there  to  Edgar 
County,  111.  He  spent  two  or  three  weeks  in 
Central  America,  crossing  from  the  Pacific  to  the 
Gulf  on  a  mule,  and  describes  the  country  as  being 
the  finest  he  ever  saw.  After  locating  in  Edgar 
County  he  engaged  in  the  stock  business,  and  in 
1853-54  purchased  the  homestead,  upon  which  he 
operated  two  or  three  years  and  then,  moving  into 
the  village  of  Kansas,  engaged  in  general  merchan- 
dising four  years,  during  which  time  he  built  up  an 
extensive  and  lucrative]  trade.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  taken  in  as  partner  Mr.  J.  Hanks,  and  in 
1860  sold  out  to  his  partner  and  removed  to  Paris, 
in  Edgar  County. 

Later  Mr.  O'Hair  was  elected  Sheriff,  serving 
two  terms,  and  afterward  became  the  Deputy  of 
his  successor.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  removed  ! 
from  Edgar  to  this  county,  locating  on  his  present 
homestead,  whereOhe  had  already  put  up  a  hand- 
some and  substantial  residence  and  had  raised  one 
crop  of  corn.  After  taking  possession  of  his  farm 
he  engaged  largely  in  buying  hogs  and  driving 
them  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  in  which  speculation 
he  realized  a  handsome  sum  of  money.  At  one 
time  he  transported  4,000  head  of  swine  in  this 
manner,  driving  them  in  the  winter  season,  making 
about  eight  miles  per  day.  He  now  keeps  from 
100  to  200  head,  mostly  of  Poland-China  but  some 
Berkshires. 

Mr.  O'Hair  was  married  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1856,  to  Miss  Catherine  R.  Zink,  who  was  born  in 
Edgar  County,  Sept.  26,  1836,  and  died  at  the  home 


of  her  husband  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  Dec. 
7,  1873.  Mrs.  O'Hair  was  the  daughter  of  Emanuel 
and  Delilah  (Wright)  Zink,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
David  W.,  Jane,  Mary,  Harvey,  Ellen  and  Cath- 
erine. The  parents  died  in  Edgar  County  in  1873. 
The  children  of  Michael  E.  and  Catherine  O'Hair 
are  recorded  as  follows:  Calvin  L.  married  Miss 
Lizzie  Stott,  who  died  four  years  after,  leaving  two 
children — Almeda  and  Lizzie.  His  second  wife 
was  Miss  Martha  Tichenor,  by  whom  he  has  a 
daughter,  Rebecca  E. ;  this  son  is  farming  on  sec- 
tion 36,  in  Seven  Hickory  Township.  Laura  B.  is  the 
wife  of  Isaac  P.  Foreman,  of  Seven  Hickory  Town- 
ship; Nettie  T.  is  the  wife  of  H.  V.  Thompson,  of 
Edgar  County,  and  they  have  three  children — 
Estella,  Elvin  and  an  infant;  Harvey  Z.,  unmarried, 
is  at  home  with  his  parents;  Gladys  V.  married 
George  Williams,  of  Morgan  Township,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1886;  an  infant,  born  Sept.  12,  1871,  and  died 
the  same  day;  another  infant,  born  Nov.  16,  1873, 
also  died  the  same  day ;  Alvaretta  C.  is  at  home 
with  her  father. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was 
married  Oct.  14,  1875,  was  formerly  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Bryant,  born  in  Edgar  County,  July  29,  1851,  and 
the  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Francina  (Roberts) 
Bryant,  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  mother  died  in 
Coles  County,  this  State,  March  2,  1874;  the  father 
is  still  living  there.  This  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  five  children — Charles,  Francina  D.,  Reba, 
an  infant  who  died  unnamed,  and  Oather. 

Mr.  O'Hair  has  distinguished  himself  as  an  in- 
telligent and  progressive  farmer,  and  takes  pardon- 
able pride  in  the  fact  that  he  has  260  acres  of 
Kentucky  blue  grass,  the  seed  for  which  he  obtained 
from  his  native  State  and  which  is  thriving  finely 
on  the  soil  of  Central  Illinois.  He  at  one  time 
sent  across  the  line  for  fifteen  bushels,  and  from 
which  has  sprung  one  of  the  most  valuable 
products  of  his  farm.  The  homestead  in  all  re- 
spects reflects  great  credit  upon  the  skill  and  en- 
terprise of  the  proprietor.  He  has  taken  a 
genuine  interest  in  the  development  and  prog- 
ress of  his  adopted  county,  and  represented  his 
township  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  four 
years.  He  has  been  Commissioner  of  Highways 


4 


1    406 


COLES   COUNTY. 


for  many  years,  and  is  a  "member  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  Rural  Retreat.  He  votes  the  straight 
Democratic  ticket,  and  socially  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  Lodge  No.  288,  in  Kansas, 
Edgar  County. 


R.  J.  P.  UECKARD,  physician  and  surgeon 
at  Paradise,  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and 
was  born  in  Paradise  Township,  Dec.  6, 
1856.  He  is  one  of  the  rising  practitioners 
of  this  section,  where  he  is  securing  the  patronage 
of  the  best  people  of  the  community  and  long  ago 
established  himself  in  the -confidence  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow-citizens.  The  family  of  our  subject  origi- 
nated in  Germany,  of  which  his  great-grandfather, 
Peter  Deckard,  was  a  native,  and  where  he  was  oc- 
cupied in  farming  pursuits  until  emigrating  to  the 
United  States.  He  had  married  in  his  native  coun- 
try, and  after  reaching  American  shores  proceeded 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  a  few  years 
and  then  purchased  a  tract  of  land  near  Wheeling, 
W.  Va.,  upon  which  he  built  a  permanent  home- 
stead, and  which  he  occupied  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  family  consisted  of  eight  children,  namely  : 
John,  Jacob,  Peter,  Joseph,  William ;  Anna,  the 
wife  of  a  Mr.  Douglas ;  Polly,  the  wife  of  a  Mr. 
Newel,  and  Peggy,  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Grimes.  Of 
these  William  is  the  only  survivor  and  is  a  resident 
of  Hard  in  County,  Ky. 

Jacob,  who  became  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, remained  on  his  father's  farm  in  Pennsylvania 
until  th<Mr  removal  to  Virginia,  which  took  place 
when  he  was  a-  young  man.  When  twenty-eight 
years  of  age,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Jane  Sutton,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  whence 
she  moved  with  her  parents  to  West  Virginia, 
probably  when  a  child.  After  a  time,  Jacob  Deck- 
ard purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Grayson  Co.,  Ky., 
where  he  farmed  a  few  years,  and  then  engaged  in 
merchandising  until  his  removal  to  this  .State,  in  the 
fall  of  1856.  He  then  purchased  a  tract  of  im- 
proved land  in  Paradise  Township,  this  county,  in 
the  cultivation  of  which  he  was  engaged  until  called 
hence,  his  death  taking  place  in  the  spring  of  1878. 


His  wife  survived  him  about  four  years,  dying  in 
about  1882.  Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Their  three  children  were 
William,  Josiah  and  John,  all  born  in  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  the  eldest  and  youngest,  deceased. 

Josiah  Deckard,  the  father  of -our  subject,  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Kentucky  when  a  boy, 
where  his  education  was  completed  in  the  common 
schools  of  Grayson  County.  He  was  married  when 
twenty  years  of  age  to  Miss  Martha  Hart,  Nov.  17, 
1844.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Hardin  County,  Ky.,  March  4,  1827,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Matilda  (Goar)  Hart, 
also  natives  of  the  Blue  Grass  State.  Mr.  D.  after 
his  marriage,  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Grayson 
County,  upon  which  he  operated  until  his  removal 
to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1856.  Coming  to  this 
county  he  purchased  a  tract  of  improved  land  in 
Paradise  Township,  which  he  has  since  successfully 
cultivated  and  where  he  now  resides,  with  his 
estimable  wife.  Both  are  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  Mr.  Deckard  has 
been  a  Mason  for  a  period  of  thirty  years.  He  is 
now  identified  with  Wabash  Lodge  No.  179,  at 
Etna.  Politically,  he  is  a  supporter  of  Democratic 
principles  and  has  served  as  School  Director  for 
several  years.  The  children  of  the  parental  house- 
hold were  named  respectively:  Mary  J.,  now  the 
wife  of  Col.  Fellows,  of  Springfield,  Mo.;  Preston, 
who  died  young;  Jacob;  Annie,  the  wife  of  O.  C. 
Rominger;  Aaron  W.,  deceased;  John  P.,  of  our 
sketch;  William;  Josiah,  who  died  young;  Joseph, 
who  died  when  twenty  years  of  age;  Ella,  the  wife 
of  Ed.  Ferguson,  and  James,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Dr.  Deckard  commenced  his  education  in  his  na- 
tive count3%  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  went 
down  into  Southwestern  Missouri  and  attended 
Drury  College  one  year,  returning  home  in  the  fall 
of  1872.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  medicine 
under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  G.  W.  McGlashou,  at 
Paradise,  and  in  the  winter  of  1877  entered  Rush 
Medical  College  of  Chicago.  Later  he  attended  the 
University  of  Kentucky,  where  he  was  graduated, 
and  then  commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen 
profession  at  Paradise,  first  in  partnership  with  Dr. 
J.  O.  Wheat.  They  continued  together  for  a  few 
years  following,  when  the  partnership  was  dissolved 


•  - 


.  LIBRARY 
OF  THE 
WVERSHY  OF  HUM'S 


COLES   COUNTY. 


409 


by  the  death  of  Dr.  Wheat.     Since  then  Dr.  D.  has 
practiced  alone. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Deckard  and  Miss  Melissa 
Thompson,  took  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride  in 
this  township,  Nov.  17,  1877.  Mrs.  D.  was  born 
in  Indiana,  Aug.  6,  1860,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Edward  and  Lovina  Thompson,  also  natives  of 
that  State,  both  now  deceased.  Of  this  union  there 
were  born  five  children,  namely,  Mary,  Anna,  Stella; 
Joseph,  now  deceased,  and  Bessie.  The  Doctor  is 
Democratic  politically,  and  with  his  estimable  wife 
is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  Wabash 
Lodge  No.  179,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Etna. 


<ii7  ARBIA  KELLY,  a  prosperous  farmer  and 
II  (^  stock-grower  residing  in  Pleasant  Grove 
jiL^i  Township,  is  an  honorable  representative  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  of  the  self- 
made  men  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  September, 
1826,  in  Washington  County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son 
of  James  and  Elsie  (Listham)  Kelly.  In  1827 
the  family  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Coles 
County,  on  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Embarras 
River,  near  the  present  site  of  the  Charleston  water- 
works. The  country  at  that  time  was  an  almost  un- 
broken wilderness.  The  Indian  tribes  in  the  vicinity 
were  hostile,  and  the  white  settlers  were  limited  to 
a  few  widely  scattered  families.  Wolves,  deer,  pan- 
thers and  bears  roamed  over  the  lonely  prairies  and 
made  their  homes  in  the  forests,  but,  undaunted  by 
the  perils  of  the  wilderness,  James  Kelly  entered 
land  and  established  himself  with  his  young  family 
on  the  Western  frontier.  They  came  poor,  and  for 
many  years  the  struggle  with  poverty,  hardship 
and  privation  was  a  bitter  one,  but  it  was  bravely  j 
met,  and  Mr.  Kelly  was  subsequently  enabled  to 
purchase  more  laud,  finally  becoming  the  owner  of 
over  300  acres,  which  he  improved  and  cultivated. 
James  Kelly  was  a  man  of  genial  disposition, 
and,  like  Abraham  Lincoln,  enjoyed  a  good  joke, 
which  characteristics  doubtless  served  to  soften 
many  of  the  asperities  of  pioneer  life.  Mrs.  Kelly's 
more  delicate  organization  was  not  able  to  endure 
the  discomforts  and  privations  to  which  she  was 


exposed,  and  she  died  soon  after  their  settlement 
in  this  county,  le.aving  a  family  of  nine  children — 
Rebecca,  :Matilda,  Lucinda,  Thomas,  Spencer,  James, 
Ebenezer,  Larbia  and  Catherine.  The  four  elder 
children  are  dead.  Mr.  Kelly  subsequently  mar- 
ried Miss  Rhoda  Ta3-lor,  and  by  this  marriage  three 
children  were  born — Nancy,  Sabrina  and  Henry 
Claj' ;  of  these  the  latter  only  is  living.  Mr.  Kelly 
was  a  Whig  in  politics.  His  death  occurred  about 
the  year  1849. 

Larbia  Kelly  was  an  infant  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  and  he  grew  up  inured  to  the 
hardships  of  pioneer  life,  but  almost  entirely  de- 
prived of  educational  advatages.  He  passed  his 
boyhood  and  youth  at  home,  assisting  his  .father  in 
the  various  duties  of  farm  labor,  and  when  twenty 
years  of  age  began  the  world  for  himself.  Going 
to  AVisconsiu  he  engaged  in  hauling  ore  from  the 
lead -mines,  and  continued  in  that  business  several 
seasons.  In  the  spring  of  1850  he  crossed  the 
plains  to  California  with  an  ox-team,  which  was  a 
perilous  and  adventurous  journey,  and  during  an 
absence  of  about  three  years  was  variously  occu- 
pied in  milling  and  teaming.  He  saved  some 
money  out  of  this  enterprise,  and  returned  home 
via  the  Isthmus  and  New  Orleans,  and  has  since 
given  his  attention  exclusively  to  farming,  and  now 
owns  over  300  acres  of  land,  supplied  with  a  sub- 
stantial two-story  brick  residence  and  appropriate 
farm  buildings. 

Mr.  Kelly  possesses  excellent  business  qualifica- 
tions, and  has  acquired  his  property  by  the  exercise 
of  energy  and  industry.  He  was  thrice  married, 
his  first  marriage  occurring  when  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  Miss  Marilda  Sul- 
livan, who  died  leaving  two  little  girls — Sarah  and 
Laura.  The  former  became  the  wife  of  Benjamin 
Parker,  and  the  latter  the  wife  of  George  Bates. 
His  second  wife,  Miss  Sarah  Lemons,  died  leaving 
five  children — Susan,  Elsie  and  Larbia,  and  two 
deceased ;  Susan  became  the  wife  of  John  W.  King, 
and  Elsie  the  wife  of  Noah  Hackett.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  present  wife  was  Miss  Millie  Catherine 
Carter,  and  this  marriage  has  been  blest  with  one 
child,  Ellen. 

In  conducting  his  farm  Mr.  Kelly  gives  special 
attention  to  stock-raising,  in  which  he  has  been 


mm 


COLES   COUNTY. 


very  successful.  He  is  not  actively  interested  in 
public  affairs,  his  own  business  requiring  his  almost 
exclusive  attention.  "  With  his  wife  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  politics  belongs  to 
the  Republican  party.  As  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Coles  County  and  a  worthy  representative  of  its 
farming  element,  we  present  the  portrait  of  Mr. 
Kelly  in  connection  with  this  brief  personal  narra- 
tive. 


Vf)  AMES  W.  LEITCH,  the  owner  of  a  fine  es- 
[  tate  containing  1  60  acres,  located  on  section 
18,  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  belongs  to 
one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the  county. 
He  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Jane  (Erwin)  Leitch, 
and  was  born  in  this  township,  Sept.  17,  1839.  His 
grandfather,  John  Leitch,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War  came  to 
America  with  the  British  troops  to  fight  for  the 
King,  but  availing  himself  of  that  prerogative  of  a 
wise  man,  the  privilege  of  changing  his  mind,  he 
deserted,  joined  the  federal  troops,  and  fought  for 
the  Republic  throughout  the  war  instead  of  the 
King.  He  [subsequently  twice  visited  his  native 
country  in  disguise. 

James  Leitch  was  taught  the  practical  details  of 
agriculture  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  as 
good  an  education  as  the  limited  advantages  of  the 
pioneer  days  afforded.  Jan.  19,  1860,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  J.  Hughes,  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  J.  and  Ellen  J.  Hughes.  Mrs. 
Leitch  was  born  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  died  May 
18,  1880,  leaving  three  children:  Alice,  the  wife  of 
John  Allison  ;  Robert  U.  and  Samuel  E.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Leitch  engaged  in  farming  in  the 
vicinity  of  Farmington,  but  in  1872  sold  out  his 
interest  there  and  removed  to  Dade  County,  Mo., 
where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in  fanning  until 
1878.  The  climate  of  Missouri  proved  unfavora- 
ble to  the  health  of  his  wife,  and  by  her  physician's 
advice  he  then  returned  to  Coles  County;  his  wife, 
however,  did  not  survive  her  removal  home  many 
years. 

March  18,  1885,  Mr.  Leitch  was  married  the  sec- 
ond time,  to  Miss  Laura  E.  Coley,  the  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Elizabeth  R.  Coley.  Since  his  return 


to  Illinois  he  has  been  engaged  in  agriculture,  and 
is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  containing  160  acres  of 
valuable  land.  Mr.  Leitch  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, is  actively  interested  in  promoting  all  measures 
calculated  to  benefit  the  community,  and  has  held 
the  offices  of  Assessor,  Collector  and  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Methodist 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a  member,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school, 
and  one  of  its  most  valued  teachers.  In  educating 
his  family  he  has  spared  neither  pains  nor  expense. 
His  oldest  son,  the  graduate  of  a  homeopathic 
medical  college,  is  now  successfully  practicing  medi- 
cine in  Willow  Lake,  Dak. 


|ASIL  BAKER,  manufacturer  and  dealer  in 
tile,  also  has  a  little  farm  comprising  forty 
acres  of  finely  cultivated  land,  located  on 
section  4,  Hutton  Township.  He  is  a  gen- 
tleman in  the  prime  of  life,  and  in  his  farming  and 
manufacturing  operations  has  met  with  success.  He 
has  one  of  the  most  desirable  homesteads  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  Coles  County,  including  an 
elegant  residence,  which  was  put  up  in  1886.  His 
thrift  and  energy  have  met  with  their  deserved  re- 
ward, and  he  is  numbered  among  the  enterprising 
and  reliable  business  men  of  Coles  County. 

Mr.  Baker  was  born  in  Coshocton  County,  Ohio, 
April  9,  1841,  and  is  the  descendant  of  an  excellent 
old  family  which  originated  in  England.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Basil  Baker,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
England  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  the 
Colonial  days  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  He  married  a  lady  of  his  own  coun- 
try, and  they  became  the  parents  of  ten  sons  and 
one  daughter,  most  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years. 
Of  these  Abel,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the 
sixth  child.  He  was  born  in  Coshocton  County, 
Ohio,  Nov.  23,  1810,  and  spent  his  younger  years 
on  his  father's  farm  and  in  attendance  at  the  dis- 
trict school.  After  reaching  manhood  he  followed 
rafting  and  boating  a  few  years,  and  in  1833  was 
married  to  Miss  Isabel  Endsley,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  the  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Isabel  Endsley, 
of  Pennsylvania.  Upon  starting  out  in  life  together 


COLES  COUNTY. 


411 


the  young  people  first  located  on  the  farm  of  his 
mother,  where  they  continued  until  the  spring  of 
1848.  Our  subject  then  decided  to  seek  a  perma- 
nent home  in  the  West,  and  making  the  journey 
overland  by  team  to  this  county,  entered  forty 
acres  from  the  Government  and  purchased  another 
forty  of  timber  land.  Upon  this  he  took  up  his 
abode  with  his  family,  and  continued  its  cultivation 
and  improvement  until  1875.  He  had  now  become 
quite  well  advanced  in  years,  and  selling  out,  pur- 
chased a  house  and  lot  in  Stringtown,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  his  death  occur- 
ring in  January,  1885.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
died  in  1880,  and  is  remembered  by  her  children 
as  a  lady  possessing  all  the  womanly  virtues.  She 
was  for  a  long  period  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  nine  children  of  the  parental  family 
were  Aaron,  Cassandra,  Basil,  Andrew,  Nancy  Jane, 
Sarah  E.,  Isabel,  James  and  Mary  A. 

Basil  Baker  spent  his  youth  and  childhood  under 
the  parental  roof,  receiving  the  advantages  of  the 
common  schools  and  being  trained  to  habits  of  in- 
dustry and  principles  of  honor.  After  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Civil  War  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  123d 
111.  Mtd.  Inf.,  and  for  'a  period  of  three  years  as- 
sisted as  best  he  could  in  the  preservation  of  the 
Union.  He  participated  in  many  important  battles, 
including  Perryville,  Chickamauga,  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Atlanta,  and  in  all  of  the  engagements 
with  the  enemy  by  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
He  was  wounded  at  Milton,  also  at  Selnia,  Ala., 
being  shot  through  the  shoulder,  but  refused  to  go 
into  the  hospital  and  continued  on  duty.  His 
health  was  preserved  to  a  remarkable  degree,  and 
after  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee,  he  was  mustered 
out  at  Springfield,  111. 

After  being  transformed  from  a  soldier  to  a  civil- 
ian, Mr.  Baker  returned  to  this  county  and  engaged 
in  farming  on  a  piece  of  land  given  him  by  his 
father,  which  he  occupied  a  few  years,  and  then 
sold  and  rented  a  quarter  section  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship. Upon  this  he  operated  three  years,  then  pur- 
chased the  land  which  constitutes  his  present  home- 
stead. Mr.  Baker,  in  1881,  put  up  the  buildings 
connected  with  his  business  as  a  tile  manufacturer, 
and  in  his  operations  in  this  line  was  successful 
from  the  beginning.  He  turns  out  from  8,000  to 


9,000  rods  per  year,  the  products  of  his  factory 
being  mostly  disposed  of  in  his  own  township. 

The  marriage  of  Basil  Baker  and  Miss  Elizabeth 
Rennels  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride's 
parents  in  Hutton  Township,  on  the  25th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1866.  Mrs.  B.  is  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Susan  (Ingrum)  Rennels,  natives  of  Kentucky, 
who  were  married  in  Indiana  and  came  to  Illinois 
in  1838,  being  among  the  early  settlers  of  Coles 
County.  Their  family  included  seven  children, 
and  Elizabeth  was  born  Sept.  4,  1840.  Of  her 
union  with  our  subject  there  are  the  following 
children:  William  R.,  born  May  30,  1867;  Curtis 
W.,  Nov.  6,  1868;  Mary  E.,  Nov.  17,  1871,  and 
Leonard  W.,  Jan.  9,  1875.  They  are  all  at  home, 
and  constitute  a  fine  group  of  which  their  parents 
may  reasonably  be  proud. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  members  in  good 
standing  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship, and  politically  Mr.  B.  affiliates  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  has  been  Township  Collector 
and  served  twelve  years  as  School  Director.  He 
was  a  charter  member  of  Omega  Lodge  No.  775, 
A.  F.  <fe  A.  M.,  at  Charleston,  and  also  belongs  to 
Charleston  Post  No.  271,  G.  A.  R. 


H.  GREEN,  one  of  the  prominent  far- 
mers and  citizens  of  Ashmore  Township,  re- 
siding on  section  5,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born  Oct.  27,  1826,  in  Miami 
County.  He  is  the  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Hemenway)  Green.  His  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  His  father,  who  was  a  progres- 
sive, energetic  man,  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1840. 
The  country  was  then  little  more  than  a  wilder- 
ness, and  feeling  dissatisfied  with  his  surroundings 
he  removed  to  Darke  County,  Ohio.  He  possessed 
excellent  business  qualifications,  and  was  successful 
in  his  undertakings,  but  during  the  latter  years  of 
his  life  was  seriously  afflicted  with  rheumatism, 
which  interfered  with  his  business  and  obliged  him 
to  spend  nearly  all  he  possessed.  He  was  born  in 
1784,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Randolph  County, 
Ind.,  Dec.  29,  1849,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five. 

James  Green  -was  a  man  of  prominence  in  the 


_mm 


dn. 


412 


COLES   COUNTY. 


community  where  he  resided,  and  a  member  of  the 
New-Light  Church.  His  widow  survived  him  many 
years.  She  was  born  in  1786,  and  died  Feb.  2, 
1872,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six.  She  was 
a  devoted  Christian  and  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Church.  Fourteen  children  were  born  to  them, 
whose  record  is  as  follows:  Arthusa,  deceased,  was 
formerly  the  wife  of  N.  R.  Reddick;  Nancy  be- 
came the  wife  of  N.  McCoy,  andjboth  are  deceased ; 
Andrew  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Coble;  Sarah  was 
married  to  Jephthah  Parker;  Catherine  is  the  wife 
of  A.  Frazier;  Hester  was  married  to  B.  Anderson; 
Zachariah  married  Miss  C.  Wiggs;  James  "W.  mar- 
ried Miss  Maria  Wysong ;  John  H.  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;  William  P.  married  Miss  Eliza 
Brown;  Nelson  R.  married  Miss  Mary  Brown; 
Henry  J.,  who  died  in  1883,  was  married  to  Miss 
S.  G.  Walker;  Hannah  J.  was  the  wife  of  George 
White,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 

In  October,  1852.  John  H.  Green  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Pottenger,  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Brannon,  pastor  of  the  New-Light  Church. 
She  was  born  Aug.  1, 1834,  in  Preble  County,  Ohio, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Dennis  R.  and  Elizabeth 
(Fort)  Pottenger.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-nine.  Her 
mother  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  her  death 
occurred  in  1859.  She  was  a  devoted  Christian, 
and  a  member  of  the  New-Light  Church,  in  which 
she  was  for  many  years  an  active  worker. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  had  a  family  of  thirteen 
children  born  to  them,  all  of  whom,  with  one  ex- 
ception, are  living.  The  following  is  their  re- 
cord: Alice  E.,  the  eldest  child,  is  the  wife  of  L. 
Bates,  and  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Mo. ;  William  S., 
born  March  21, 1854,  married  Miss  Urmina  Goble; 
Granville  D.,  born  Sept.  7, 1857,  married  Miss  Pru- 
dence Mack;  Commodore  D.,  born  March  2,  1860, 
married  Miss  Mary  Miller;  Hester  C.,  born  May  11, 
1862;  S.  A.,  Dec.  27,  1864;  Walter  S.,  Feb.  23, 
1866;  Mayer,  June  24,  1 868 ;  Norman,  May  2,1870; 
Mary  E.,  Sept.  16,  1872;  Ernest,  Sept.  10,  1875; 
Oris  and  Otis  (twins),  Aug.  3,  1879. 

Mr.  Green  came  to  Illinois  Nov.  1,  1856,  and 
purchased  120  acres  of  land  at  $18  per  acre.  He 
gradually  added  to  his  purchase,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  a  fine  estate  containing  607  acres  of  val- 


uable land.  He  is  an  active,  energetic,  hard-work- 
ing man,  and  has  brought  his  farm  to  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation.  His  family  are  all  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  in  which  he  is  one  of  the  Elders, 
and  also  an  eloquent  speaker.  In  1871  he  joined 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  an  ardent  advocate  of 
its  principles ;  he  is  a  member  of  Ashmore  Lodge 
No.  390.  In  politics  Mr.  Green  is  an  active  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party. 


R.  WILLIS  J.  PEAK,  physician  and  sur- 
geon, has  been  a  resident  of  Oakland  Vil- 
lage for  twenty  years,  where  he  has  built 
up  a  good  practice,  and  established  himself 
fully  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  people. 
The  essential  points  of  his  history  are  as  follows : 
Dr.  Peak  was  born  in  Gallatin  County,  Ky.,  April 
3,  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  Grigg  and  Susan  (Crow) 
Peak,  natives  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  re- 
spectively. His  father  was  born  in  1796,  and  fol- 
lowed farming  nearly  all  his  life,  making  a  specialty 
of  cattle-raising,  by  which  means  he  accumulated 
a  fortune.  He  died  of  yellow  fever  in  the  city  of 
New  Orleans  in  the  fall  of  1838. 

The  Peak  family  were  formerly  slave-holders  in 
Virginia,  and  the  paternal  grandparents  of  our 
subject  removed  to  Kentucky,  carrying  with  them 
their  slaves.  Grandfather  Peak  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  War  for  three  or  four  years,  and 
was  murdered  by  the  Indians.  The  Peak  family 
was  a  very  prolific  race,  and  the  male  members, 
almost  without  exception,  Democratic  in  politics. 
Grigg  Peak  became  a  resident  of  Kentucky  in  early 
manhood,  and  was  there  married  to  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  in  about  1824.  She  was  born  March 
15,  1802,  and  died  in  Warrensburg,  Mo.,  in  March, 
1863,  and  had  for  many  years  been  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  elder 
Peak  was  not  connected  with  any  religious  denom- 
ination. After  the  death  of  her  first  husband,  Mrs. 
Peak  was  married  the  second  time,  to  Sanford  Rose, 
who  was  murdered  by  some  of  Quan troll's  men  in 
Missouri,  in  1863.  The  children  of  the  first  mar- 
riage were  Elizabeth,  Albert,  David,  Jordan,  James, 
Joseph,  Charlotte  and  ''Willis,  and  of  the  second 


T 


COLES   COUNTY. 


413 


marriage,  Wallace,  Henry,  Richard  and  Riley.  The 
latter  were  all  in  the  Union  army,  and  members  of 
a  Missouri  regiment. 

Our  subject  began  the  study  of  medicine  under 
the  instruction  of  Dr.  Adolphus  Sayer,  of  Warsaw, 
Ky.,  and  was  graduated  by  St.  Louis  Medical 
College  in  1861.  He  commenced  practice  in  John- 
son County,  Mo.,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  was  the  owner  of  six  slaves,  and  located  near 
Kansas  City.  In  order  to  save  his  property,  he 
took  them  down  into  Texas,  and  to  avoid  being 
conscripted  into  the  rebel  army,  entered  as  a  vol- 
unteer, and  served  in  Col.  Caldwell's  regiment  un- 
til discharged,  whereupon  he  entered  the  Union 
service  in  February,  1863,  as  Assistant  Surgeon, 
14th  Kansas  Cavalry.  In  1864  he  was  commis- 
sioned as  Surgeon,  and  was  mustered  out  June  17, 
1865,  at  Lawrence,  Kan. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Willis  J.  Peak  and  Miss 
Lucinda  Howard,  took  place  in  Johnson  County, 
Mo.,  March  17,  1861.  This  lady  died  three  years 
later  at  the  home  of  her  husband  in  the  same 
county.  Of  this  marriage  there  was  born  one 
child,  a  daughter,  Ella,  who  received  a  fine  educa- 
tion, and  for  several  years  engaged  in  teaching; she 
is  now  the  wife  of  Colin  Bell,  of  Holden,  Mo.  The 
present  wife  of  our  subject  was  formerly  Miss  Mary 
A.  Burr,  to  whom  he  was  married  Dec.  2,  1869. 
She  was  born  in  Momence,  111.,  Aug.  6,  1852,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  P.  and  Elmira  J. 
(Evans)  Burr,  also  natives  of  this  State.  Samuel 
P.  Burr  departed  this  life  at  his  home  in  Madison, 
Neb.,  Nov.  19,  1881.  The  mother  is  still  living, 
making  her  home  in  Dane,  Dak.  Their  children 
were  George,  Laban,  Mary,  Jessie,  Maude  and 
Louisa.  Dr.  Peak,  by  this  later  marriage,  became 
the  father  of  another  child,  a  daughter,  Maude, 
born  Nov.  19,  1871,  and  died  on  her  birthday,  in 
1879. 

In  1884,  Dr.  Peak  associated  himself  in  partner- 
ship with  P.  L.  Garvey.  The  firm  constitutes  a 
strong  one,  and  the  Doctor  has  accumulated  a  fine 
property,  including  seven  houses  and  lots  in  the 
village,  and  100  acres  of  valuable  land  near  the 
town  limits.  Politically,  he  is  a  straight  Democrat, 
and  as  a  business  man  and  citizen,  occupies  a  place 
in  the  front  ranks  among  his  fellow-townsmen.  The 


Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Esculapian  Society  of 
the  Wabash;alsoof  A.  F.  <fe  A.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  K.  of  P. 


eC.  REYNOLDS,  Chief  Train  Dispatcher  of 
the  I.  <fe  St.  L.  R.  R.,  and  stationed  at  Mat- 
toon  since  1881,  is  a  fine  illustration  of  a 
gentleman  who  has  risen  to  a  responsible  position 
through  his  own  efforts,  and  whose  fidelity  to  duty 
has  gained  him  the  good-will  of  the  great  corpora- 
tion by  which  he  is  employed,  as  well  as  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

Mr.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Jennings  County,  Ind., 
May  1,  1859,  and  is  the  son  of  Curtis  T.  and  Dru- 
silla  F.  (Ray)  Reynolds,  natives  of  the  same  State. 
His  father,  early  in  life,  was  occupied  with  farming 
pursuits,  but  for  the  last  thirty-three  years  has  been 
engaged  in  construction  work  on  railroads  as  fore- 
man. The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
William  L.  Reynolds  by  name,  a  native  of  the 
Green  Mountain  State,  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  after  reaching  his  majority  emigrated 
to  Indiana,  being  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the 
State,  where  he  married  and  reared  a  family  of 
children,  among  them  being  Curtis,  the  father  of 
our  subject. 

Curtis  T.  Reynolds  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Jefferson  County,  Ind.,  where  he  was  married  to 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  four  children,  three  now  living,  viz., 
William  L.,  Byford  E.,  and  Charles  C.  of  our  sketch. 
The  eldest  son  is  engaged  in  railroading  in  Indiana, 
and  Byford  is  foreman  of  construction  on  the  T.,  St. 
L.  &  K.  C.  R.  R.,  in  the  same  State. 

Our  subject  attended  school  at  Shelbyville,  Ind., 
until  thirteen  years  of  age,  where  he  learned  teleg- 
raphy, which  he  followed  one  year  in  that  place,  and 
in  the  meantime  employed  his  leisure  hours  with  his 
studies  at  the  public  school,  then  after  spending  a 
few  months  on  a  farm  he  went  to  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
where  he  was  engaged  as  clerk  at  a  book  and  news 
stand,  and  then  secured  a  position  as  night  opera- 
tor at  the  same  place,  on  the  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R., 
which  position  he  held  for  two  years.  Mr.  Reyn- 
olds came  to  Mattoon  in  1881,  and  was  engaged  for 


414 


COLES  COUNTY. 


six  months  as  telegraph  operator.  He  then  went  to 
Indianapolis,  where  he  was  similarly  occupied  for 
six  months,  and  then  transferred  back  to  Mattoon 
as  Assistant  Train  Dispatcher.  A  year  later  he 
was  promoted  to  the  position  which  he  now  holds. 
While  a  resident  of  Mattoon,  Mr.  Reynolds  was 
married  to  Miss  Agnes  A.  Henderson,  a  native  of 
Elora,  Ontario,  Canada,  and  daughter  of  John  and 
Jeanette  (Wilkinson)  Henderson,  natives  of  Scot- 
land, who  emigrated  to  Canada  in  about  1850. 
Their  family  included  two^childrenjonly,  Mrs.  Reyn- 
olds and  her  brother  Morris.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R. 
have  two  children  —  Ray  W.  and  Alice.  Both  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  number 
among  their  warmest  friends  the  cultivated  people 
of  Mattoon.  Their  residence  is  pleasantly  located 
at  the  intersection  of  Wabash  and  Fifth  streets. 
Mr.  Reynolds  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  and 
socially,  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


j>ILLIAM  B.  ZIMMERMAN,  a  retired  far- 
mer, and  at  present  residing  in  Oakland 
Village,  has  been  one  of  the  prominent 
figures  in  the  agricultural  districts  of  Coles  County 
for  the  past  thirty-five  years.  He  cannot  by  any 
means  be  called  an  old  man  although  he  has  retired 
from  active  labor  and  has  wisely  set  aside  a  portion 
of  his  means  as  a  source  of  comfort  and  ease  in  his 
declining  years.  His  early  industry  and  economy 
have  fully  justified  him  in  thus  retiring  from  the 
active  employments  of  life,  and  his  upright  course 
has  secured  for  him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow-citizens. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  was  born  in  Augusta  County. 
Va.,  Feb.  4,  1826,  and  is  the  son  of  Martin  and 
Sarah  (Griever)  Zimmerman,  natives  of  the  same 
county.  They  were  there  reared,  growing  up  as 
playmates  together,  and  were  united  in  marriage  in 
about  1823.  The  mother  departed  this  life  in  1852, 
of  a  disease  which  then  prevailed  in  this  part  of 
Illinois,  and  the  father  followed  one  week  later. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  after  their  marriage  re- 
mained in  the  Old  Dominion  until  1837,  then  com- 
ing to  Illinois  located  first  in  Edgar  County,  where 


the  father  raised  one  season's  crops  and  removed  in 
the  fall  to  Oakland  Township,  this  county.  He 
commenced  life  without  means,  but  his  willing 
hands,  stout  heart  and  fine  constitution,  served  him 
well,  so  that  he  was  enabled  to  secure  a  comfortable 
living  and  provide  properly  for  his  famity.  It  was 
hard  pulling  at  first,  and  William  B.  when  fourteen 
years  of  age  was  compelled  to  commence  workaway 
from  home,  and  by  this  means  add  to  the  family 
income. 

Our  subject  was  thus  occupied  until  nineteen 
years  of  age,  and  then  commenced  to  do  for  him- 
self. He  received  for  his  labors  $10  per  mouth, 
but  lived  economically  and  saved  what  he  could. 
His  first  proceeds  were  invested  in  a  horse,  and 
thus  equipped  he  rented  a  tract  of  land,  the  owner 
of  this  furnishing  him  another  horse,  and  with  his 
team  he  commenced  to  till  the  soil.  After  two 
years'  labor  in  this  manner  he  considered  that  he 
was  justified  in  establishing  domestic  ties,  and  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Louisa  J.  Black,  of 
Oakland  Township,  the  wedding  taking  place  at  the 
home  of  the  bride's  parents,  March  1,  1848.  Not 
long  afterward  he  was  enabled  to  make  a  payment 
on  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  was  provided  with 
a  log  cabin,  sixteen  feet  square,  and  with  his 
young  wife  commenced  housekeeping.  In  due  time 
the  family  was  enlarged  by  the  birth  of  three  chil- 
dren, and  in  1856  Mr.  Z.  erected  a  frame  house,  into 
which  the  family  proudly  removed  and  which  he 
occupied  until  1881. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  in  the  meantime  had  been  pros- 
pered in  his  farming  operations,  and  had  wisely  in- 
vested his  surplus  capital  in  additional  land.  He 
thus  operated  until  he  became  the  owner  of  800 
acres,  the  whole  of  which  he  brought  to  a  good  state 
of  cultivation  and  provided  with  excellent  frame 
buildings.  At  the  date  mentioned  he  concluded 
to  retire,  and  accordingly  rented  the  farm  and  erect- 
ed a  fine  dwelling  in  Oakland  Village.  This  con- 
sists of  two  stories  with  a  basement,  and  stands  in 
the  midst  of  a  hickory  grove,  covering  one  and 
one-half  acres,  and  constituting  a  most  attractive 
and  valuable  homestead.  Of  the  children  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Z.,  James  M.  died  when  two  years 
old;  Elizabeth  P.  at  about  the  same  age,  as  also  did 
John  Y. ;  Sarah  L.  became  the  wife  of  Quince  Kin- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


415 


zel,  of  Oakland ;  Florence  J.,  the  youngest  daughter, 
is  the  wife  of  L.  J.  Norton,  of  Oakland. 

Mr.  Zimmerman  is  one  of  the  Directors  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Oakland,  and  has  been  identified 
with  many  of  the  enterprises  set  on  foot  to  build 
up  his  township.  He  is  a  straight  Republican, 
politically,  and  uniformly  casts  his  vote  in  support 
of  the  principles  of  his  party.  He  and  his  estimable 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


RCHIBALD  BROOKS.  The  name  of 
ij/LJ||  Archibald  Brooks  is  prominent  among  the 
pioneers  of  Ashrnore  Township.  He  was 
born  Dec.  7,  1807,  in  AVashington  County, 
Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Little) 
Brooks.  Robert  Brooks  was  born  June  8,  1773, 
and  died  July  12,  1844,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one. 
His  wife  was  born  June  13,  1776,  and  died  Oct. 
28,  1851.  The  following  is  the  record  of  their 
children:  JMaria  J.,  born  Dec.  27,  1800;  Alfred, 
Jan  3,  1802 ;  Thomas  M.,  in  1811 ;  Margaret,  Archi- 
bald; John,  June  7,  1810;  Elizabeth,  March  29, 
1812;  Robert  A.,  June  21,  1815,  and  William  S., 
Sept  10,  1818. 

Archibald  Brooks  was  twice  married.  His  first 
marriage,  to  Miss  Nancy  Pownell,  took  place  Sept. 
30,  1830.  She  died  Jan,  12,  1850,  leaving  a  family 
of  five  children,  as  follows :  Mary  A.,  born  June 
22,  1832,  married  Benjamin  F.  McPheters;  Lydia, 
born  Jan.  25,  1834,  married  J.  M.  Moffett;  Dia- 
1 1 -i ma  P.,  born  Feb.  29,  1836,  married  Joseph  S. 
Wright;  Robert  W.,  born  Jan.  22,  1844;  and 
Benjamin  A.,  born  Aug.  27,  1846,  married  Mary  E. 
Squire.  Our  subject  was  married  the  second  time,  to 
Mrs.  (Cheesman)  Scott,  April  23, 1853.  She  was  born 
Nov.  21,  1824,  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  and  the 
following  is  the  record  of  their  children :  Kate  E., 
born  April  11,  1854,  died  in  infancy;  Hannah  F., 
born  July  23,  1856,  married  Gideon  Galbreath; 
Tarleton,  born  March  22,  1859,  married  Miss  Rosa 
E.  Galbreath;  Archibald  J.,  born  Jan.  28,  1862, 
married  Miss  Mary  Cutler,  and  Mattie  E.,  born 
March  30,  1867,  married  W.  O.  Kimball. 

Mr.  Brooks  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Ash- 
more  Township  in  1827.  He  vividly  recollects 


many  incidents  of  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  is 
memorable  for  being  the  last  conflict  with  the 
Indians  in  this  part  of  the  United  States.  The 
winter  previous  was  noted  for  an  unusually  deep 
fall  of  snow,  which  lay  on  the  ground  from  Decem- 
ber to  March.  It  was  a  period  of  great  privation, 
and  even  many  wild  animals  died  from  starvation 
while  it  lasted.  The  few  families  of  the  township 
were  isolated  and  unprotected,  and  lired  in  great 
fear  of  Indian  depredations;  deer  and  wolves 
roamed  over  the  prairies  in  vast  numbers,  and 
panthers  and  bears  were  not  unfrequently  found. 
But  a  new  era  was  dawning  for  this  unbroken 
wilderness,  and  the  prosperity  of  Central  Illinois 
dates  from  the  successful  close  of  the  Black  Hawk 
War. 

Mr.  Brooks  began  life  on  the  Western  frontier 
with  no  capital,  save  courage,  energy  and  integrity 
of  character,  and  his  career  in  life  has  been 
rewarded  with  exceptional  prosperity.  Although 
he  has  been  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  town- 
ship for  many  years,  he  has  never  desired  political 
preferment,  and  has  refused  any  office  offered  him 
by  the  people.  He  has  always  been  interested  in 
educational  affairs,  and  together  with  his  family,  is 
a  member  of  the  Old-School  Presbyterian  Church. 
His  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Henry  Clay, 
and  he  warmly  sustains  the  Republican  party  in 
politics.  The  homestead  comprises  160  acres  of 
fine  prairie  land,  and  forty  acres  of  timber. 


^jl  AMES  WILEY  is  pursuing  the  even  tenor 
of  his  way  as  a  prosperous  and  intelligent 
farmer  of  Morgan  Township,  where  he 
(glP  located  in  the  spring  of  1865.  He  is  the 
proprietor  of  295  acres  of  valuable  land,  with  a 
fine  residence,  a  good  barn  and  other  out-build- 
ings, and  deals  largely  in  graded  stock,  including 
Short-horn  cattle  and  Clydesdale  horses.  The 
residence  is  a  frame  structure,  which  was  built  in 
1870,  and  the  main  barn  was  put  up  in  1887. 
Everything  about  the  premises  is  kept  in  good 
order,  and  displays  on  all  sides  the  thrift  and 
enterprise  of  the  proprietor. 

Mr.  Wiley  first  drew  breath  in  Bracken  County, 


4 


416 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Ky.,  July  24,  1825,  and  is  the  son  of  John  A.  and 
Ruth  (Wells)  Wiley, '[also  natives  of  the  Blue 
Grass  State.  John  Wiley  was  born  in  Bracken 
County  in~U799,  and  was  the  son  of  Eli  and 
Elizabeth  (Coles)  Wiley,  who  reared  a  large  family 
of  children,  of  whom  John'was  the  eldest.  The 
others  were  named  respectively,  James,  Reason, 
Adam,  Dow,  Darius,  Asa,  Hannah,  Mary,  Dorcas, 
Susan,  Nancy  and  Lettie.  Nancy  is  the  wife  of 
Michael  Whalen,  of  Charleston,  and  Lettie,  the 
widow  of  James  Sublet,  of  the  same  place.  It  is 
supposed  that  these  are  the  only  ones  living. 

John  Wiley  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  State, 
and  was  there  married.  Four  or  five  3-ears  later 
in  about  1830,  he  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
remaining  one  summer  in  Edgar  County.  He  then 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Ashmore  Township, 
this  county,  which  he  occupied  until  the  spring  of 
1851,  then  sold  out  and  purchased  a  farm  in  what 
is  now  Douglas  County,  upon  which  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days,  his  death  taking  place  in 
April,  1874.  He  was  considered  a  good  man  in 
every  sense  of  the  word,  and  for  many  years  was 
prominently  connected  with  the  Christian  Church. 
The  children  of  the  parental  family,  six  in  num- 
ber, were,  James,  of  our  sketch;  Louis,  now  de- 
ceased; Sallie,  the  wife  of  James  Arterbeon,  a 
farmer  of  Edgar  County;  Aden,  a  resident  of 
Chester,  111. ;  Elizabeth  and  Amos,  who  died  in 
childhood.  The  wife  and  motherjpassed  away  in 
December,  1846.  John  Wiley  was  then  married 
to  Mrs.  Lucy  (Williams)  Rout,  and  of  this  union 
there  were  also  born  six  children,  who  are  re- 
corded as  follows:  Ruberta,  Mrs.  Haines,  became 
the  mother  of  two  children,  and  died  in  1886; 
Hester  Ann  is  the  widow  of]George  Richmond, 
who  died  in  1877,  and  left  four  children,  of  whom 
Townsend  and  Mary  Frances  (twins)  are  the  only 
ones  surviving,  and  with  their  mother,  are  residents 
of  Douglas  County;  Eli,  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
and  William,  are  at  home. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  bat  five  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  came  to  this  county.  He  was 
bred  to  farm  life  and  completed  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Ashmore  Township,  and 
after  reaching  manhood  was  married,  in  March, 
1866,  to  Miss  Sarah  Brown,  who  was  born  in  this 


county,  and  is  the  daughter  of  J.  W.  and  Martha 
Brown,  natives  of  Kentucky,  who  became  the 
parents  of  eight  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
four  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiley  are  recorded 
as  follows:  John  W.,  born  Nov.  19,  1867,  died 
July  2,  1869;  Millie  Susan,  born  Oct.  27,  1869; 
Minnie,  Jan.  26,  1874,  and  Grace  A.,  Oct.  22,  1882, 
remain  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Wiley  is  one  of  the  most  reliable  members 
of  the  Republican  party,  although  meddling  little 
with  politics,  and  uniformly  casts  his  vote  with  it 
upon  occasions  of  important  elections.  He  has 
been  the  encourager  of  those  enterprises  calculated 
for  the  best  good  of  his  community  and  is  properly 
classed  among  the  worthy  and  valued  citizens  of 
Morgan  Township,  who  have  aided  in  developing 
its  resources  and  bringing  it  to  a  good  position 
among  the  surrounding  communities. 


ISAAC  TAYLOR.  How  like  the  perfect  day  is  the 
period  of  full  life  —  birth,  manhood  and  death. 
Life,  like  the  day,  may  commence  in  sunshine 
and  then  become  clouded,  through  which  the  sun- 
light will  come  at  times  only  in  rifts;  and  then 
some  lives  may  be  like  the  days  on  which  the  sun 
shines  all  the  time,  and  others  may  begin  with 
clouded  skies  and  close  in  the  beauty  of  a  full  sun- 
set. No  matter  how  dark  the  beginning,  nor  how 
cloudy  the  day  may  be,  the  glorious  sunset  through 
all  the  ages  has  presaged  clear  skies  for  the  follow- 
ing days.  So  with  life;  the  clear  sky  at  its  sunset 
is  its  own  prophecy  of  a  beautiful  life  in  the  Be- 
yond, where  the  sun  rises  in  a  cloud-burst  of  glory 
never  to  set  again,  but  to  shine  and  illumine  the  sky 
for  all  eternity.  These  reflections  in  this  place  are 
not  inappropriate,  for  the  good  people,  the  events 
of  whose  lives  are  herein  sketched,  resemble  the 
simile  of  the  day  which  began  cloudy  and  remained 
so  until  after  the  meridian  line  of  time  was  passed, 
and  then  became  more  beautiful  in  its  full  sunlight 
as  the  horizon  is  reached,  and  will  close  with  a  glo- 
rious sunset. 

Among  the  excellent  people  of  whom  Pleasant 
Grove  Township  possesses  many,  Isaac  Taylor 
stands  eminent,  and  is  a  ^descendant  of  one  of  the 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

lirVERSITY  OF  ILLirO'S 


COLES  COUNTY. 


419    i 


families  who  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Illinois.  He 
was  born  on  the  16th  of  March,  1829,  in  Rutherford 
County,  Tenn.,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  (Patterson)  Taylor, natives  of  North  and 
South  Carolina  respectively.  When  Michael  Taylor 
attained  to  manhood  he  removed  to  Tennessee.  In 
early  life  he  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  a 
participant  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  While 
serving  in  the  army,  and  being  but  illy  provided 
for  comfort,  his  health  became  impaired,  which 
doubtless  led  to  his  comparatively  early  death.  He 
descended  from  long-lived  ancestors,  but  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty-five.  In  1830  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Illinois,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  but  a  year  old,  and  for  one  year  resided  near 
the  Kickapoo  River ;  he  then  changed  his  residence 
and  passed  one  year  in  the  northern  part  of  Cum- 
berland County,  but  not  being  satisfied  with  the 
outlook  there  removed  to  Coles  County. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  twice  married ;  by  the  first  mar- 
riage there  were  born  four  children,  none  of  whom 
survive.  Their  names  were  Elijah,  Stephen,  Polly 
and  Jane.  By  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Taylor  be- 
came the  father  of  ten  children,  and  their  record 
is  as  follows :  Temperance  is  the  wife  of  Mansfield 
Patterson,  and  a  resident  of  Oregon ;  Cynthia,  de- 
ceased, was  formerly  the  wife  of  Charles  Powers; 
Matilda  was  the  wife  of  Morton  Anderson,  and  is 
now  deceased ;  William  A.  resides  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  with  his  brother  Isaac,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Polly,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Pres- 
ley Highland ;  James  is  deceased ;  Susan  was  the 
wife  of  Levi  Enyard,  and  is  now  deceased ;  Michael 
is  a  resident  of  Cumberland  County,  111.;  Eliza- 
beth is  the  wife  of  John  J.  Hall.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Michael  Taylor  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  in  which  they  were  actively  interested,  the 
former  having  been  a  frequent  exhorter  during  his 
residence  in  Rutherford  Township,  Tenn.  Mr.  Tay- 
lor's death  occurred  in  1838,  and  his  widow,  who 
survived  him  many  years,  died  in  1865.  Mr.  Tay- 
lor left  120  acres  of  land  and  some  other  property, 
which  in  that  early  day  was  considered  quite  a 
fortune. 

Isaac  Taylor,  our  subject,  passed  his  boyhood 
days  in  Coles  County,  in  the  neighborhood  where 
he  now  resides.  His  early  education  was  limited 


to  such  as  could  be  procured  at  the  old  log  school- 
house  of  pioneer  days.  These  rude  structures, 
through  the  cracks  and  apertures  of  which  the  wind 
whistled  and  played  at  will,  were  the  only  halls  of 
learning  where  the  children  of  the  pioneers  could 
obtain  the  scant  rudiments  of  education.  The 
spaces  used  for  windows  were  tacked  over  with 
white  homespun  cloth,  or  oiled  paper  in  lieu  of 
glass,  and  the  benches  were  constructed  of  split 
logs  supported  by  rude  wooden  pegs.  His  patri- 
mony consisted  of  eleven  acres  of  land  from  his 
father's  estate,  and  upon  this  foundation  he  began 
his  career  in  life. 

His  first  marriage  was  with  Miss  Sarah  E.  Ryan, 
a  native  of  Illinois,  the  event  occurring  in  1856. 
Their  married  life  was  of  but  brief  duration,  for  her 
death  occurred  in  the  following  year.  In  1860  Mr. 
Taylor  was  again  married,  this  time  to  Miss  Eliza 
Erwin,  the  daughter  of  James  S.  and  Margaret  E. 
Erwin.  She  was  born  on  the  5th  of  October,  1841, 
in  Coles  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  had 
a  family  of  ten  children  born  to  them,  one  of 
whom  was  accidentally  burned  to  death  when  a 
child  six  years  of  age.  The  names  of  the  others 
are  as  follows;  Marion  W.,  Willie  E.,  Oscar  A., 
Margaret  Elizabeth,  Perry  S.,  Isaac  V.,  Carrie  O., 
Minta  E.  and  John  Y. 

Mr.  Taylor  has  ever  been  deeply  interested  in 
promoting  the  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  the 
community,  and  for  the  last  thirteen  years  has  been 
engaged  in  preaching  the  Gospel  in  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  stands  high  in  the  esteem  and  respect 
of  the  members  of  that  denomination.  His  life  is 
a  beautiful  exemplification  of  Christianity.  Mr. 
Taylor  has  served  as  Assessor  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  and  for  man3r  years  held  the  office  of 
School  Director.  His  estate  consists  of  800  acres 
of  valuable  land.  His  farm  buildings  are  excel- 
lent, and  he  carries  on  a  successful  business  in  gen- 
eral agriculture.  In  politics  Mr.  Taylor  votes  with 
the  Democratic  party. 

In  the  winter  of  1886  Mr.  Taylor  revisited  his 
birthplace  and  old  home  in  Tennessee,  but  time 
had  changed  the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  to  which 
he  was  now  a  stranger,  and  others  were  equally 
alien  to  him.  There  were  few  faces  which  he  could 
recognize  by  sight,  or  even  recollection.  While 


4 


420 


COLES   COUNTY. 


1 


there  he  met  many  relatives  whom  he  had  never 
seen  or  known  of  before.  The  greater  number  had 
become  scattered  over  the  world,  or  were  quietly 
resting  in  the  churchyard.  Four  cousins  were 
living  who  had  reached  the  age  of  fourscore  years. 
Mr.  Taylor,  having  passed  over  the  summit  and 
now  on  the  journey  down  the  other  side  of  the  hill 
of  life,  can  look  back  over  his  pilgrimage  with  the 
satisfaction  of  one  who  has  been  faithful  to  every 
trust  and  duty,  never  evading  any  obligations  as  a 
citizen.  Most  esteemed  by  those  who  know  him 
best,  nil  join  in  wishing  that  his  sunset  days  may  be 
his  happiest,  surrounded  by  all  that  makes  old 
age  blessed,  the  love  and  reverence  of  children,  and 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  neighbors  and  friends. 
Beginning  on  nothing  at  a  time  when  the  West  was 
sparsely  settled  he  has  seen  Illinois  become  an  em- 
pire, himself  aiding  in  building  it  up,  a  work  which 
he  can  now  contemplate  with  both  pride  and  pleas- 
ure. As  pioneers  and  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
Coles  County  we  present  the  portaits  of  both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Taylor,  and  also  a  view  of  their  admira- 
ble home  and  its  most  cheerful  and  comfortable 
surroundings. 


J JACOB  WINKLEBLACK,  of  Morgan  Town- 
I    ship,  was  born  and  reared  on  the  homestead 
which  he  now  occupies,  and  which  includes 
_      a  fine  body  of  land,  lying  on  section  30. 
This  has  been  his  home  during  his  entire  life,  and 
includes  230  acres  under  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, enclosed,  and  supplied  with  substantial  build- 
ings, and  in  all  respects  presenting  a  pleasant  pic- 
ture of  rural  life  in  the  midst  of  peace  and  plenty. 
Besides  this  property  he  has  eighty  acres  on  sec.  25, 
Seven  Hickory  Township.     His  landed  possessions 
now  embrace  310  acres,    180  of  which  are   under 
cultivation,  and  the  balance  in  valuable  timber. 

Our  subject  was  born  Jan.  13,  1864,  and  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Weaver)  Winkleblack. 
His  father  was  born  in  Dauphin  County,  Pa., 
March  4,  1805,  and  remained  there  until  a  youth 
of  fifteen  years,  where  he  learned  the  tanner's 
trade.  Subsequently  he  engaged  at  his  trade  at 
Harrisburg  until  1829,  and  then  going  to  Northern 


Ohio,  was  employed  at  Cleveland,  Massillon  and 
Janes ville,  until  the  fall  of  1835.  He  then  came 
to  this  State,  and  entered  160  acres  of  land  in 
Morgan  Township,  to  which  he  afterward  secured 
his  title  and  added  until  he  became  the  possessor 
of  1,500  acres,  the  result  of  his  own  industry  and 
perseverance. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  March 
4,  1841.  Mrs.  Catherine  Winkleblack  was  born  in 
York  County,  Pa.,  Oct.  23,  1822,  and  died  Jan.  23, 
1866,  two  years  after  the  birth  of  her  son,  our  sub- 
ject. The  father  survived  until  Sept.  28, 1886,  and 
was  then  the  father  of  twelve  living  children.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Adam  Winkle- 
black  by  name,  was  born  and  died  in  Pennsylvania, 
his  decease  taking  place  Nov.  10,  1837.  He  had 
married,  and  reared  a  large  family,  the  mother 
passing  to  her  final  rest  Oct.  9,  1831.  The  chil- 
dren of  John  and  Catherine  Winkleblack  are  re- 
corded as  follows:  William  H.,  born  Aug.  16, 
1841,  married  Miss  Lizzie  Davis,  and  they  are  res- 
idents of  Seven  Hickory  Township,  being  the 
parents  of  two  children — Charles  and  Gary.  Mil- 
ton C.,  born  July  27,  1842,  married  Miss  Caroline 
Coon  and  has  two  children;  they  live  in  California. 
Robert  A.,  born  Jan.  1, 1844,  married  Miss  Matilda 
Hullin,  and  they  have  three  children — Willis,  Mag- 
gie and  Lawrence;  Mason  F.,  born  Sept.  12,  1845, 
was  married  three  times,  his  last  wife  having  been 
Mrs.  Anna  (Walters)  Rowe,  who  became  the  mother 
of  two  children— John  and  Bertie  Alice;  Nancy  J., 
born  Oct.  3,  1847,  is  the  wife  of  William  Gregg,  of 
Seven  Hickory  Township,  and  the  mother  of  three 
children — John,  Lulu  and  Lonney  (twins)  ;  Thomas 
T.,  born  March  20,  1849,  married  Miss  Rose  Han- 
cock, of  Seven  Hickory  Township,  and  they  have 
one  child — Vina  V.;  Mary  E.,  born  July  30,  1851, 
became  the  wife  of  William  Camp,  who  was  killed 
by  the  Indians  in  Kansas,  while  hunting  buffalo,  in 
1884;  of  this  marriage  there  were  two  children — 
Thomas  and  Lilly.  Mrs.  C.  was  married  the  sec- 
ond time,  to  Shannon  Clark,  and  of  this  union  there 
was  one  child,  Dora,  who  died  July  4,  1887;  they 
are  living  in  Morgan  Township.  John,  born  Aug. 
20,  1853,  married  Miss  Luellan  Ratliff,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Franklin;  Victoria  S.,  born  March 
20,  1 855,  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Walters,  and  has  one 


"4 


-4 

421      1 


COLES  COUNTY. 


child,  John;  Daniel  Boone,  born  April  10,  1858, 
married  Miss  Anna  Myers,  and  is  farming  in  Seven 
Ilickor}1-  Township;  Susanna,  born  July  24,  1861, 
died  in  childhood;  Jacob,  of  our  sketch,  was  the 
youngest  of  the  family. 

Our  subject  received  a  fair  education,  and  after 
reaching  manhood  was  married,  March  4,  1884,  at 
the  home  of  the  bride,  to  Miss  Catherine,  the 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Carl)  Beck. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  mem- 
ber of  a  large  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  two  children,  namely,  Lillie 
Ellen,  born  Feb.  13,  1885,  and  Otto,  Oct.  28, 1886. 
Our  subject  is  a  stanch  Republican  politically,  and 
socially,  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  609,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at 
Charleston. 

-"*> *%>"l:f:*  <f~~ 


JF^OBERT  W.  WRIGHT,  who  is  well  and 
\£\  favorably  known  in  Morgan  Township,  of 
cii  Mi\  which  he  has  been  a  resident  since  the  fall 
*^)of  1872,  was  born  in  Hocking  County,  Ohio, 
Aug.  26,  1838.  He  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Lo- 
vina  W.  (Carver)  Wright,  the  former  a  native  of 
the  same  county,  born  Sept.  17,  1806.  He  died  in 
his  native  county  June  17,  1860,  aged  fifty-three 
years  and  nine  months.  The  paternal  grandparents 
of  our  subject  were  Thomas  and  Barbara  (John- 
son) Wright,  the  former  born  in  Ireland,  July  4, 
1773.  He  emigrated  to  America  when  a  young 
man,  and  was  afterward  married  to  Miss  Johnson, 
who  was  of  German  parentage,  and  born  in  the 
Fatherland,  Feb.  18,  1777.  After  his  marriage, 
Thomas  Wright  located  upon  a  tract  of  land  on  the 
Hocking  River  and  followed  farming  thereafter  to 
the  close  of  his  life,  and  was  buried  within  seven 
miles  of  where  he  had  lived. 

The  family  of  Thomas  Wright  included  the  chil- 
dren recorded  as  follows:  John  B.,  born  March 
21,  1801,  was  married,  and  at  his  death  left  a  family 
of  seven  children;  Sarah  C.,  born  Nov.  16,  1802, 
was  married,  and  became  the  mother  of  a  family, 
dying  at  a  ripe  old  age;  Joseph  was  the  father  of 
our  subject;  Robert,  born  June  2,  1809,  married 
and  became  the  father  of  five  children,  and  is  now 
living  in  good  health  in  Logan  County,  Ohio; 


Catherine  was  born  Sept.  14,  1811,  and  died  in 
Hocking  County;  William,  born  Sept.  10,  1816, 
died  in  Ohio,  leaving  a  family;  Charles,  born  June 
13,  1814.  married  and  reared  a  family,  and  died 
near  Pittsburgh,  Pa.;  Mary,  born  May  1,  1819, 
was  first  married  to  Irin  Calhoun ;  her  second  hus- 
band was  Isaac  Weeks. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  after  his  marriage  set- 
tled in  Hocking  County  within  eight  miles  of  where 
he  was  born,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  con- 
tinued until  his  death.  He  had  ten  children,  of 
whom  the  record  is  as  follows:  Lucinda,  born 
Feb.  24,  1828,  is  married,  and  lives  in  Douglas 
County;  Albert  C.,  born  July  1,  1829,  is  married, 
has  a  family,  and  is  living  in  Hocking  County, 
Ohio;  Presley  0.,  born  Nov.  8,  1830,  is  married 
and  living  with  his  family  in  Cromwell,  Iowa;  Her- 
man K..  born  Sept.  1,  1832,  is  married  and  living 
in  Ohio;  Mary,  born  Sept.  29,  1834,  became  the 
wife  of  George  Bond,  and  died  in  India;  Catherine, 
born  Oct.  30,  1836,  married  Samuel  Sherry  and 
lives  in  Ohio;  Robert  W.,  of  our  sketch,  was  the 
sixth  child;  Barbara,  born  Oct.  10,  1840,  was  mar- 
ried in  Ohio  to  Samuel  Johnson,  is  the  mother  of 
nine  children,  and  now  resides  in  this  county;  Irvin 
C.,  born  June  16,  1845,  was  graduated  from  the 
medical  college  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  is  practic- 
ing in  Logan  County,  Ohio;  Emily  L.,  born  July 
3, 1848,  was  the  wife  of  Daniel  F.  Moore,  and  died 
in  1885,  leaving  three  daughters.  The  children  all 
received  H  good  education,  and  the  most  of  them 
engaged  in  teaching  before  they  were  married. 
Presley  O.  served  four  years  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  late  war,  and  suffered  greatly  in  health, 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  never  recovered.  Mrs. 
Lovina  (Carver)  Wright  was  born  in  Ohio,  Sept. 
18,  1806,  and  was  the  only  daughter  of  Albert 
Carver,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Her  brother  Albert 
died  when  a  young  man,  and  the  mother  died  in 
middle  life.  The  father  was  married  the  second 
time,  and  reared  another  family. 

Robert  W.  Wright  remained  under  his  father's 
roof  until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  engaged  in 
farming  pursuits,  and  receiving  a  fair  education  in 
the  district  schools.  Upon  starting  out  in'  life  for 
himself  he  was  married,  May  10,  1861,  to  Miss 
Nancy  J.  Roverscraft,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the 

•*• 


4 


422 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Buckeye  State,  born  Jan.  17,  1845.  Her  parents 
were  John  and  Isabel  (Riggs)  Roverscraft,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Maryland,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  had  four  children,  namely,  Nancy, 
Willie,  Noah  and  Elizabeth. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright  are  re- 
corded as  follows:  John  W.,  born  May  23,  1862; 
Ulysses  Grant,  born  March  8,  1864,  in  Union 
County,  Iowa,  is  engaged  in  gardening;  Etta  Bell, 
born  Aug.  23,  1868,  died  Feb.  6,  1870;  Charles, 
born  April  26,  1870;  Albert  W.,  April  5,  1872; 
Alma  L.,  Dec.  25,  1875;  Jesse  O.,  Feb.  1,  1878; 
Willie  P.,  April  27,  1881,  and  Harry  S.,  Feb.  13, 
1  885  ;  all  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  W. 
is  Democratic  politically,  and  with  his  estimable 
lady  has  been  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Wright  located  in  this  county  in  1865, 
and  soon  afterward  settled  in  Ashmore  Township, 
where  he  remained  until  1872.  and  then  took  pos- 
session of  his  present  homestead.  He  has  labored 
industriously  and  with  excellent  results.  He  car- 
ries on  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  is  in 
all  respects  fulfilling  the  obligations  of  a  good 
citizen. 


J~  OSEPH  W.  BITNER,  who  owns  a  good 
farm  of  133  acres  on  section  13,  in  Ashmore 
Township,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  State 
since  a  lad  twelve  years  of  age.  He  was 
born  in  Perry  County,  Pa.,  Aug.  11,  1834,  and  is 
the  fifth  child  of  William  and  Rebecca  (Trostle) 
Bitner,  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  of 
substantial  German  ancestry.  Both  parents  iden- 
tified themselves  with  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  early  in  life.  William  Bitner  fol- 
lowed farming  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1846, 
when  in  middle  life,  having  been  born  in  1791.  He 
was  not  permitted,  however,  to  carry  out  his 
plans  in  relation  to  a  homestead  in  the  Prairie 
State,  as  he  was  stricken  down  the  following 
year  by  the  hand  of  death.  His  remains  were  laid 
to  rest  in  the  cemetery  in  Ashmore  Township.  He 
is  remembered  as  a  bright  example  of  the  Chris- 
tian gentleman,  fulfilling  all  his  duties  in  life  in  a 
most  praiseworthy  manner  and  leaving  behind  him 


a  record  of  good  deeds.  The  mother,  who  was 
born  June  22,  1804,  is  still  living  and  in  good 
health.  She  was  eminently  fitted  to  be  the  com- 
panion of  such  a  man  as  her  husband,  and  has  been 
a  faithful  member  of  her  church  for  the  last  sixty 
years.  The  eleven  children  of  the  parental  house- 
hold were:  Henry,  now  deceased;  Isaiah,  Susan, 
Martha,  Angeline,  Rebecca,  Robert,  Eliza,  Amanda, 
and  two  who  died  in  infancy  unnamed. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  passed  Jiis  childhood 
and  youth  after  the  manner  of  most  country  boys, 
spending  a  few  weeks  each  winter  in  the  district 
school,  and  laboring  with  the  balance  of  the  house- 
hold on  the  homestead  in  summer.  When  twenty- 
four  j'ears  of  age  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Jarvis,  their  wedding  taking  place  at 
the  home  of  the  bride's  parents  in  the  spring  of 
1858.  This  lady  died  on  the  22d  of  November, 
1873,  at  the  home  of  her  husband  in  Ashmore 
Township,  after  having  become  the  mother  of  five 
children.  These  were  John,  Mary;  Melissa,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Robert  Reedus,  and  is  now  de- 
ceased ;  Sarah  and  Annie.  The  second  wife  of  our 
subject,  to  whom  he  was  married  Nov.  26,  1874, 
was  formerly  Miss  May  A.  Franklin.  Her  death 
took  place  on  the  10th  of  May,  1883,  and  she  left 
four  children — Susan,  Lydia,  Martha  and  Joseph. 
Both  these  ladies  were  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject  was  formerly 
Miss  Mary  A.  Williams,  and  they  were  married 
Nov.  6,  1883.  Mrs.  C.  was  born  in  Knox  County, 
Ohio,  in  1840,  and  is  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (McCarty)  Williams,  who  were  natives 
of  Virginia,  born  near  Culpeper  Court-House, 
and  in  early  life  removed  to  Ohio,  where  they  es- 
tablished a  comfortable  farm  homestead,  and  where 
the  decease  of  both  occurred.  Mrs.  Williams  was  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
while  her  husband,  although  a  true  Christian  in  life 
and  character,  never  identified  himself  with  any 
Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children :  Daniel,  Sarah,  James,  Albert,  Martha, 
Elizabeth,  Lewis,  John  and  Mary.  Of  the  last 
marriage  of  Mr.  Bitner  there  were  born  no  chil- 
dren. 

Our  subject  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  politically. 


*^V- 


COLES   COUNTY 


423 


and  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Ashraore,  where  he  has  held  the 
office  of  Deacon  for  many  years.  He  has  labored 
faithfully,  and  contributed  generously  to  insure  the 
maintenance  and  welfare  of  the  church  of  his 
choice,  and  at  one  period  in  his  existence  was  its 
main  prop.  He  is  a  great  admirer  of  the  principles 
of  Masonry,  and  identified  himself  with  the  frater- 
nity many  years  ago. 


R.  CORNELIUS  B.  RUDDELL  owns  and 
occupies  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres  on  sec- 
tion 8,  in  Seven  Hickory  Township.  He 
put  up  a  handsome  residence  in  the  fall  of 
1881,  taking  possession  of  the  place  the  following 
year,  and  since  then  has  devoted  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land  and  the  em- 
bellishment of  one  of  the  finest  homesteads  in 
Coles  County.  He  has  also  eighty  acres  within  the 
limits  of  Fair  Grange,  which  is  well  improved  and 
quite  valuable.  The  principal  events  in  the  life 
history  of  our  subject  are  mainly  as  follows  : 

Dr.  Ruddell  first  drew  breath  in  Clark  County, 
Ind.,  June  23,  1830,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and 
Rebecca  (Tucker)  Ruddell.  His  father,  a  native 
of  Maryland,  was  born  in  1794,  and  emigrated  from 
his  native  State  in  about  1820,  to  Clark  County, 
Ind.,  where  he  engaged  in  general  merchandising 
and  also  carried  on  farming  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent until  1840,  then  removed  to  Jefferson  ville. 
The  mother  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  about  1800, 
and  both  parents  were  of  Scottish  ancestry.  The 
record  of  their  children  is  as  follows  :  Alexander 
T.  married  Miss  Catherine  Haymaker,  and  is  a 
resident  of  Clark  County,  Ind.  ;  Sarah  E.  is  the  wife 
of  M.  W.  Robertson,  and  resides  in  La  Porte 
County,  Ind.  ;  Rebecca  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Harbi- 
son, of  Clark  County,  that  State;  Stephen  R.  died 
when  an  interesting  youth  of  sixteen  years,  and 
Charles  B.,  when  about  three  and  one-half  years  of 
age. 

The  subject  of  this  narrative  was  the  second 
child  of  his  parents  and  spent  his  early  daj's  after 
the  manner  of  most  country  boys,  pursuing  his 
studies  in  the  winter  season  at  the  district  school 


and  making  himself  useful  around  the  parental 
homestead.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Madison 
County,  111.,  in  1842,  where  the  latter  died  soon 
afterward,  when  he  was  but  a  boy  twelve  years  of 
age.  Two  uncles  then  came  and  took  the  orphaned 
children  back  to  Indiana,  and  our  subject  lived  with 
his  uncle  Robertson  until  completing  his  ordinary 
school  studies.  He  then  decided  to  become  a  phy- 
sician, and  going  to  Louisville,  entered  the  medical 
university  where,  after  a  course  of  two  years,  he 
was  graduated  in  1857.  He  commenced  practice 
at  Oregon,  Ind.,  but  continued,  however,  only 
eighteen  months,  finding  that  the  profession  neither 
accorded  with  his  tastes  nor  his  health.  He  then 
purchased  a  stock  of  goods  and  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising at  the  same  place  until  1862.  In  1865 
he  located  at  Charleston,  Ind.,  and  sold  goods  there 
until  1881.  Then,  selling  out,  he  purchased  240 
acres  of  land  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  which 
constitutes  his  present  homestead. 

Dr.  Ruddell  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1859, 
to  Miss  Julia  A.,  the  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Malinda 
(Drummond)  Coombs,  natives  of  Indiana,  and  the 
father  a  successful  farmer  and  miller  of  Clark 
County.  The  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs.  R.  were : 
Sarah,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  William  P'erris,  and  a 
resident  of  Clark  County,  Ind. ;  James,  who  died 
young;  Madison  R.,  telegraph  operator  and  Station 
Agent  at  Memphis,  Ind.;  John  Lee,  who  married 
Miss  Lydia  Deitz,  and  lives  in  Clark  County; 
Thomas,  who  married  Miss  Hannah  Carr,  and  lives 
in  Kansas ;  David  B.,  who  married  Miss  Emma  Gurn- 
sey,  and  is  a  resident  of  Louisville,  Ky. ;  Campbell 
H.,  who  married  Miss  Clara  Deitz,  and  is  milling 
in  Clark  County,  Ind. ;  and  Mahlon,  who  married 
Miss  Susan  Bower. 

The  wedding  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  was 
celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride,  Rev.  Reason 
Hammond,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
officiating.  Of  this  marriage  there  have  been  the 
following  children:  William  C.  died  April  11, 
;  1863,  in  infancy;  Sallie  M.,  was  born  Jan.  29, 

1862,  and  married  O.  L.  Gurnsey,  of  Clark  County, 
Ind.,    who   is   now   in   the   employ  of   a  railroad 
company     in   Texas;    Charles   M.,    born    May    7, 

1863,  married    Miss    Estella    Coombs,    of    Clark 
County,  Ind.,  and  is  Station  Agent  at  Fair  Grange, 


424 


COLES   COUNTY. 


being  also  engaged  in  general  merchandising;  Wal- 
ter H.  was  born  Nov.  28,  1865,  and  is  a  telegraph 
operator  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind. ;  Albert,  born  Oct. 
11,  1868;  Jessie  G.,  Oct.  18,  1870;  Fannie  L.,  Dec. 
17, 1874,  and  Benson,  Nov.  8,  1876. 

The  Doctor  keeps  himself  well  posted  upon  cur- 
rent events,  and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  is  a  strong  Prohibitionist,  and 
has  watched  with  deep  interest  the  success  of  the 
temperance  movement.  In  1876  he  became  identi- 
fied with  the  A.  O.  IT.  W.  at  Charlestown,  Ind.,  and 
still  retains  his  connection  with  the  order.  He  has 
contributed  his  full  quota  toward  the  building  up 
of  his  county,  and  his  beautiful  farm,  with  its 
appurtenances,  forms  one  of  the  most  attractive 
features  in  the  landscape. 


H.  WALLACE,  M.  D.  Dr.  Wallace  has 
retired  from  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  in  Humbolt 
Township,  containing  500  acres  of  valuable  land. 
He  is  the  eldest  son  of  Robert  and  Martha  (Row- 
land) Wallace,  and  was  born  Oct.  11,  1840,  in  Rip- 
ley  County,  Ind.,  of  which  State  his  parents  were 
also  natives.  His  paternal  grandparents,  David  and 
Jane  (McKittrick)  Wallace,  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky. David  Wallace  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  and 
removed  to  Ripley  County,  Ind.,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  that  occupation  for  many  years.  His  ma- 
ternal grandparents  were  Philip  and  Rebecca  (Per- 
lee)  Rowland,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Philip  Rowland  was  a 
weaver  by  trade,  but  entered  land  in  the  early  days 
in  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  early  life  and  was  presented 
with  a  sword  in  recognition  of  his  services  rendered 
to  the  country.  His  family  on  both  sides  are  noted 
for  longevity,  and  Dr.  Wallace  distinctly  remem- 
bers on  one  occasion  seeing  his  two  grandmothers 
and  one  great-grandmother  enjoying  a  social  visit 
together.  His  grandfather  was  the  parent  of  nine 
children  and  grandparent  of  forty-seven,  among 
whom  not  a  single  death  had  yet  occurred. 

Robert  Wallace,  like  his  father,  was  a  tanner  by 
trade,  and  in  early  life  was  engaged  in  that  business 


in  Ripley  County,  but  he  subsequently  removed  to 
Lawrenceburg,  Dearborn  County,  and  there  engaged 
in  the  leather  business.  He  received  an  excellent 
education  in  boyhood,  and  when  a  young  man  took 
a  classical  course  in  Wilmington  College,  in  Indi- 
ana. He  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  Law- 
renceburg, where  his  death  occurred  in  1844.  His 
widow,  thus  early  deprived  of  the  strong  arm  upon 
which  she  had  leaned,  soon  removed  with  her  little 
family  to  the  old  homestead,  where  she  subsequently 
was  married  the  second  time,  to  James  Vandolah. 
After  this  marriage,  the  family  removed  to  Hills- 
boro,  where  her  son  W.  H.,  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools.  He  made  his  home  partly 
with  his  grandfather  Rowland,  assisting  him  on  the 
farm  during  the  summer  season,  and  attending 
school  in  the  winter.  When  about  nineteen  years 
of  age  he  obtained  employment  with  his  stepfather 
in  a  shingle  factory,  in  Lawrence  County,  Ind. 

After  leaving  the  factory  our  subject  taught 
school  one  term,  and  then  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  37th 
Ind.  Vol.  Inf.,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Hazzard 
and  Capt.  Markland.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Law- 
renceburg and  served  three  years.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Regimental  Paymaster,  and  was  soon  after 
promoted  to  the  position  of  Division  Paymaster, 
and  removed  with  the  retreat  to  Louisville,  where 
he  took  charge  of  the  military  mail.  Chaplain 
Lozier  was  actively  interested  in  procuring  his 
rapid  promotion.  He  was  also  employed  as  book- 
keeper until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  the  autumn 
of  1864  he  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Indian- 
apolis. Having  had  a  little  experience  as  drug 
clerk  he  then  determined  to  study  medicine,  and 
entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  March,  1867.  He  first 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Miami, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  and  after  remaining  there  four 
years  removed  to  New  Haven  in  the  same  county, 
and  there  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  Bartlett, 
which  continued  five  years. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1872.  Dr.  Wallace  mar- 
ried Miss  Albina  Scott,  the  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Maria  (Sefton)  Scott,  of  Ohio.  Her  father's 
family  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  her  mother's  of 
Irish.  Two  years  after  his  marriage,  Dr.  AVallace 
moved  with  his  young  wife  to  Humbolt,  in  this 


COLES   COUNTY. 


425 


county,  where  his  father-in-law  had  previously  en- 
tered a  section  of  land.  He  purchased  this  tract  of 
the  heirs,  gave  up  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  has  since  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  conducting  his  farm  he  was 
at  one  time  extensively  engaged  in  raising  broom 
corn,  but  is  now  giving  his  attention  to  growing 
fine  breeds  of  stock.  He  makes  a  specialty  of 
raising  English  draft  horses,  and  in  cattle  has  a 
pedigreed  Short-horn  and  a  graded  Polled-Augus 
as  a  cross.  His  hogs  are  bred  from  choice  Poland 
males,  which  has  given  him  a  fine  stock. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Wallace  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Those  living  are  Harry  H.  and  William  G.  Dr. 
Wallace  is  not  actively  interested  in  politics,  but 
always  votes  with  the  Republican  party.  The  Doc- 
tor and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  in  which  the  former  is  an  Elder  and 
also  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Sunday-school. 


T  V.  MILLAR,  a  substantial  and 
prosperous  farmer  of  Lafayette  Township, 
is  located  on  section  4,  and  is  also  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  tile.  He  had  been  a  resident 
of  the  Prairie  State  since  a  youth  seventeen  years 
of  age,  when  he  came  with  his  father's  family  from 
Hampshire  County,  Va.,  where  he  first  opened  his 
eyes  to  the  light  on  the  1st  of  February,  1837.  His 
parents,  William  and  Sarah  (VanMeter)  Millar. emi- 
grated from  the  Old  Dominion  to  Illinois  in  1854, 
and  located  in  Lafayette  Township,  where  the  elder 
Millar  still  carries  on  farming.  (See  sketch  on 
another  page.) 

Our  subject  spent  his  childhood  and  youth  under 
the  parental  roof,  and  under  the  training  of  his 
father,  who  was  a  thorough  farmer,  became  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  the  best  methods  of  tilling 
the  soil  and  carrying  on  general  agriculture.  After 
reaching  his  twenty-fifth  year,  he  was  married,  in 
September,  1862,  to  Miss  Mary  Knowles,  the  wed- 
ding taking  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride  in 
Homer,  Ohio.  Mrs.  M.  is  the  daughter  of  William 


and  Mary  Knowles,  and  was  born  in  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  June  9,  1839. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Millar,  when  startingjrout  in  life 
together,  located  upon  a  part  of  the  land  which 
they  now  occupy.  Our  subject  was  prospered  in 
his  farming  operations,  and  in  due  time  became  the 
possessor  of  342  acres,  which  is  thoroughly  drained 
with  fifteen  miles  of  tiling,  the  product  of  his  own 
manufacture,  and  is  furnished  with  a  good  set  of 
farm  buildings.  He  set  up  his  tile  factory  mainly 
for  his  own  benefit,  it  was  the  second  one  estab- 
lished in  Coles  County.  Afterward  there  seemed 
to  be  such  demand  for  this  commodity  that  he  con- 
tinued his  operations,  at  the  request  of  the  neigh- 
boring farmers,  and  now  manufactures  large  quan- 
tities for  outside  parties  annually,  turning  out  dur- 
ing the  season  of  1886,  ninety  miles  of  tile,  varying 
in  size  from  three  to  twelve  inches. 

Mr.  Millar  followed  stock-raising  fora  number  of 
37ears,  but  now  gives  his  attention  mostly  to  grain. 
Of  the  ten  children  born  to  this  household  the 
eldest  daughter,  Mary,  died  in  1886,  when  an  in- 
teresting young  lady  of  twenty  years.  The  nine 
living  are  Edwin,  Garrett,  Charles,  Sadie,  Harry, 
Vause,  Fannie,  Bertha  and  Ruth. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Millar  identified  themselves  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  many  years  ago,  and  po- 
litically, our  subject  usually  votes  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  although  by  no  means  confining  him- 
self to  party  candidates.  He  has  held  the  local 
offices  of  his  township,  but  would  much  prefer  to 
follow  the  life  of  a  private  citizen,  and  give  his  en- 
tire attention  to  his  family  and  his  farm. 


FRANCIS  A.  BROWN  is  a  farmer  and  stock- 
grower  residing  on  section  10,  Ashmore 
Township.  He  was  born  Feb.  1,  1859,  on 
the  place  where  he  now  resides.  (For  history  of 
the  parents  see  sketch  of  P>lwin  W.  Brown.)  June 
25,  1882,  Francis  A.  Brown  was  united  in  marriage 
to  M  iss  Maggie  Myers.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Mary  (Johns)  Myers,  and  was  born 
in  Illinois,  Nov.  3,  1861.  Her  parents  are  natives 
of  Virginia,  but  are  now  living  in  Coles  County, 
111.  Her  father  is  a  man  of  fine  business  qualificn- 


426 


COLES   COUNTY. 


tious,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  stock-dealers  in  the 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  have  a  beautiful  lit- 
tle girl  named  Nettie  P.,  born  Sept.  11,  1885. 

Mr.  Brown  owns  a  fine  stock  farm  of  1 25  acres, 
on  which  he  resides.  He  is  a  young  man  of  energy 
and  enterprise,  and  is  successfully  engaged  in  rais- 
ing high  grades  of  cattle  and  hogs.  He  is  inter- 
ested in  public  affairs,  and  like  all  the  other  mem- 
bers of  his  family  is  a  Republican  and  Prohibition- 
ist. His  grandfather  was  a  Mason. 


N  LIVER  C.  BOWER,  a  well-known  and  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Morgan  Township,  spent 
his  early  years  in  Clark  County,  Ind.,  where 
his  birth  took  place  July  25,  1846.  He  is  the  son 
of  Absalom  and  Nancy  (Hostetter)  Bower,  and  his 
paternal  grandfather  was  Adam  Bower.  The 
latter's  children  were  Joseph,  Solomon,  Absalom, 
Elizabeth,  Thomas  Jefferson  and  Barbara,  and  the 
male  members  of  the  family  became  prominent  in 
public  affairs,  being  men  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  in  1804,  to  which  State  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Pennsylvania.  Absalom  was 'a  boy  of 
five  years  when  his  parents  removed  to  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  two  years  afterward  took  up  their  resi- 
dence in  Clark  County,  Ind.  Adam  Bower  pur- 
chased about  600  acres  of  land,  in  the  cultivation 
and  improvement  of  which  he  was  engaged  the 
balance  of  his  life,  and  at  his  death  had  a  fine 
estate  to  divide  up  among  his  children.  Absalom 
Bower  after  reaching  manhood  married  and  settled 
in  Clark  County,  where  he  continued  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  November,  1870.  His 
share  of  his  father's  estate  was  about  100  acres, 
to  which  he  added  as  time  passed  on,  and  finally 
became  the  owner  of  nearly  600  acres,  with  a  large 
area  of  valuable  timber.  A  part  of  this  he  cleared 
and  improved,  and  built  up  a  homestead  which  was 
a  credit  to  himself  and  formed  one  of  the  attractive 
features  of  Clark  County,  Ind.  He  was  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  business  ability,  kindly  in  his 
character  and  disposition,  and  had  for  about  forty 


years  been  prominently  connected  with  the'  Chris- 
tian Church,  being  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  organi- 
tion  at  Olive  Branch,  in  which  he  officiated  as 
Deacon  for  many  years.  He  was  liberal  in  his  con- 
tributions to  the  Church  and  to  objects  of  charity, 
and  with  his  excellent  wife,  trained  his  children  in 
the  faith  which  sustained  him  in  his  old  age. 

Adam  Bower  was  a  preacher  of  the  Dunkard  de- 
nomination, with  which  he  identified  himself  when 
a  young  man  and  carried  on  his  pious  administra- 
tions during  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  His 
funeral  was  attended  by  people  from  all  parts  of  the 
county,  the  procession  extending  over  one  mile  in 
length.  He  was  greatly  missed  from  the  commun- 
ity, which  had  learned  to  respect  him  for  his 
excellent  traits  of  character,  and  with  whose  agri- 
cultural interests  he  had  been  identified  for  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  His  son  Joseph  was  for 
twelve  years  the  Recorder  of  Clark  County,  and 
his  brother  Daniel  a  Colonel  of  militia.  He  served 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War  at  the  time  when  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  city  of  LaFayette  was  an  untrodden 
wilderness,  and  endured  with  true  pioneer  courage 
and  manly  fortitude  the  dangers  and  difficulties  of 
settlement  in  a  new  country. 

The  main  points  in  the  history  of  the  children  of 
Absalom  and  Nancy  Bower  are  given  briefly  as 
follows:  William  E.,  a  practicing  physician  of 
Sullivan,  Ind.,  was  more  than  ordinarily  successful, 
building  up  a  large  practice  and  a  fine  reputation ; 
Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Jesse  Coombs,  who 
died  shortly  afterward,  and  she  then  commenced 
studying  medicine;  she  was  graduated  from  the 
same  college  where  her  brother  had  studied,  and 
practiced  successfully  a  number  of  years.  By  her 
first  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  one  child, 
which  died  young.  Her  second  husband  was  John 
C.  Barnes,  a  farmer  of  Jefferson  County,  Ind., 
where  they  resided  five  years  and  then  moved  to 
Rural  Retreat,  thence  to  their  present  home.  They 
have  three  sons — Elmer,  Omer  and  Calmer.  Sol- 
omon L.  Bower  married  and  located  in  Clark 
County,  Ind.,  on  land  given  him  by  his  father,  to 
which  he  has  added  and  is  now  the  possessor  of  200 
acres;  he  has  no  children.  Adam  died  when  two 
years  of  age ;  Emma,  when  twenty-one  years  old 
was  accidentally  killed  by  being  thrown  under  a 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UK5VERSJTV  OF  ILLIMO'S 


1 


COLES   COUNTY. 


429 


wagon  while  riding  on  horseback.  She  was  highly 
gifted  and  a  natural  poetess,  and  her  writings  are 
carefully  preserved.  She  seemed  to  have  a  pre- 
sentiment that  she  would  meet  an  accidental  death, 
and  expressed  a  belief  that  she  would  not  live  to 
be  twenty-two  years  old.  In  consequence  of  this 
she  refused  to  be  married  to  her  betrothed  until 
after  her  twenty-second  birthday.  Her  death  took 
place  when  she  was  twenty-one  years  and  six 
months  old.  Abraham  H.  was  graduated  at  the 
Cincinnati  Medical  College  in  1862;  he  was  subse- 
quently drafted  and  furnished  a  substitute.  Daniel 
died  when  eight  years  of  age. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  remained  at  home  dur- 
ing the  early  part  of  his  life,  and  was  married  soon 
after  reaching  his  majority.  He  had  received  a 
good  education,  completing  his  studies  at  the 
Northwestern  University  at  Indianapolis.  There 
he  was  only  permitted  to  attend  O7ie  year  on  ac- 
count of  the  illness  of  his  brother,  returning  home 
to  take  care  of  the  latter  until  his  death.  He  was 
married,  Dec.  29,  1869,  to  Miss  Emily  J.  Perisho,  a 
native  of  Coles  County,  born  April  10,  1846,  and 
the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  llosana  (O'Hair)  Perisho, 
who  were  natives  of  Washington  County,  Ind.,  and 
became  prominent  in  Coles  County,  where  they 
spent  the  greater  part  of  their  lives.  The  biography 
of  Isaac  Perisho  will  be  found  on  another  page  in 
this  ALBUM. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bower  became  the  parents  of  two 
children:  William  Perisho  died  when  an  infant  of 
six  months;  Arthur  E.  is  at  home  with  his  parents. 
Mr.  Bower  came  to  this  county  in  1871,  arriving 
here  on  the  20th  day  of  January.  He  had  already 
purchased  the  farm  to  which  he  now  removed  his 
family,  and  proceeded  industriously  with  its  im- 
provement and  cultivation.  It  includes  265  acres, 
and  is  intersected  by  the  T.,  St.  L.  &  K.  R.  R.  He 
has  given  much  attention  of  late  years  to  the  breed- 
ing of  fine  stock,  and  buys  broom  corn  in  large 
quantities,  which  he  ships  to  Eastern  markets,  his 
transactions  in  this  line  yielding  him  annually  a 
handsome  sum  of  money.  Included  in  the  farm 
is  a  timber  tract  of  110  acres  lying  along  the  Em- 
barras  River,  and  the  lowland  has  been  drained 
with  2,500  rods  of  tiling.  His  live-stock  includes 
horses,  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep.  Mr.  Bower,  politi- 


cally,  is  an  uncompromising  Democrat,  and  in  1886 
came  within  two  votes  of  receiving  the  nomination 
for  Sheriff.  He  has  occupied  various  local  offices, 
and  been  prominent  among  the  counsels  of  his 
townsmen  in  matters  concerning  the  general  welfare, 


JOHN  NEFF,  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  North  Okaw  Township,  and  a 
portrait  of  whom  is  shown  on  the  opposite 
page,  operates  a  fine  body  of  land  compris- 
ing 240  acres  under  cultivation,  and  sixty  acres  of 
timber  on  section  32.  The  improvements  are  first- 
class,  and  Mr.  N.  of  late  years  has  given  consider- 
able attention  to  the  raising  of  fine  stock.  His 
early  days  were  passed  in  Wythe  County,  Va., 
where  his  birth  took;place  Sept.  20,  1813.  He  re- 
ceived a  limited  education,  and  when  eighteen 
years  old  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  tracing  his 
footsteps  first  to  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  to  which 
place  a  married  sister  had  preceded  him,  and  where 
he  worked  for  two  years  following  on  a  farm,  at 
$100  per  year."  His  father  then  coming  to  Indiana 
on  a  visit  to  his  son-in-law,  our  subject  returned 
with  him  to  Virginia,  and  remained  at  home  sev- 
eral years  thereafter. 

In  1838  Mr.  Neff  returned  to  Indiana,  and  for 
two  years  thereafter  had  charge  of  a  farm  near 
Shakertown.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Bumgardner,  the  wed- 
ding taking  place  in  July,  1833,  in  Virginia.  This 
lady  was  a  native  of  the  same  county  as  her  hus- 
band, and  after  becoming  the  mother  of  one  child, 
a  son,  William  F.,  departed  this  life  at  the  home  of 
her  husband  in  Virginia.  Mr.  Neff  afterward  re- 
turned to  Indiana,  where  he  was  engaged  as  we 
have  stated,  and  in  1835  went  back  to  the  Old 
Dominion,  and  was  there  married  in  1836,  to  Miss 
Susan  Nelson.  He  remained  in  his  native  county 
several  years  thereafter,  and  in  the  fall  of  1849 
came  with  his  family  to  this  State,  locating  in 
North  Okaw  Township.  He  had  learned  the  black- 
smith's trade  in  his  native  State,  and  now  rented  a 
tract  of  land  which  he  cultivated,  and  upon  which 
he  erected  a  shop,  and  worked  at  his  trade  as  time 
and  opportunity  permitted.  In  1859,  he  removed 


r 


430 


COLES   COUNTY. 


to  Texas,  of  which  State  he  was  a  resident  one 
year,  and  then  repaired  to  a  point  near  Kansas 
City,  where  he  farmed  several  years,  and  then  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  in  Johnson  County,  Kan. 

The  children  of  John  and  Susan  Neff,  eleven  in 
number,  were  Mary,  James,  Fannie,  Franklin,  Car- 
oline, Nancy,  Henry,  Harvey,  Cora,  Sarah  C.,  and 
an  infant  who  died  unnamed.  Cora  died  when 
about  fifteen  years  of  age ;  Sarah  C.  died  in  Coles 
County,  and  Mary  died  in  Kansas.  The  wife  and 
mother  departed  this  life  at  their  home  in  Kansas, 
in  1861,  and  for  a  time  after  this  affliction  the 
household  was  broken  up.  Mr.  N.  did  not  engage 
in  anything  for  a  time,  and  the  children  were  cared 
for  by  Fannie  Lewis.  In  February,  1863,  Mr. 
Neff  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Nancy 
(Stineman)  Osborn,  daughter  of  Kudolph  and  Mary 
Stineman,  and  widow  of  William  Osborn,  who  died 
in  North  Okaw  Township,  in  1861  ;  he  was  a  thrifty 
farmer,  and  left  his  widow  a  fine  property.  The 
Stineman  family  is  of  German  ancestry. 

The  parents  of  Mrs!  Neff  had  a  family  of  five 
children,  namely :  John,  Mary,  Harriet,  Nancy  and 
Phoebe.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stineman  spent  their  last 
years  in  Indiana,  where  the  mother  died  Feb.  18, 
1838,  and  the  father  in  1840.  Mrs.  Neff  is  the  only 
one  of  their  children  living.  Rudolph  Stineman 
was  born  Oct.  3,  1793,  and  his  wife,  formerly  Miss 
Mary  Hawkins,  Dec.  3,  1797.  Their  marriage 
took  place  in  Ohio,  Jan.  11,  1815,  of  which  State 
Mrs.  Neff  is  a  native,  born  Jan.  5,  1825.  Her 
parents  afterward  moved  to  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
where  they  spent  their  last  3rears.  The  paternal 
grandparents  of  Mrs.  Neff,  who  were  natives  of 
Germany,  spent  the  latter  part  of  their  lives  in 
Ohio,  dying  near  the  town  of  Oxford,  where  their 
remains  were  laid  to  rest.  Mrs.  Neff  was  carefully 
reared,  receiving  a  common-school  education,  and 
remained  with  her  sister  until  her  first  marriage. 
There  were  no  children  by  either  marriage. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  George  Neff  by  name, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  German  an- 
cestry. He  became  a  resident  of  Wythe  County, 
Va.,  while  a  young  man,  and  was  there  married  to 
Miss  Catherine  Etter.  Soon  afterward  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Wythe  County  and  followed  farm- 
ing continuously  during  his  life.  He  served  as  a 


soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  "died  on  his  farm 
not  long  after  the  late  Civil  War.  The  mother  had 
passed  to  her  final  rest  several  years  previously. 
They  were  conscientious  people,  and  consistent 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  The  parental 
household  included  ten  children,  namely :  Hettie, 
Elizabeth  and  Samuel,  who  were  married,  and  are 
now  deceased;  Christina,  the  widow  of  Stephen 
Cormany,  and  now  a  resident  of  Wythe  County, 
Va. ;  Rachel,  who  died  young,  and  Lydia,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Joseph  Flory,  both  now  deceased: 
John,  our  subject;  Martin,  who  occupies  the  old 
homestead  in  Virginia;  Hiram,  who  died  in  Texas, 
and  David,  who  died  in  Virginia  two  years  after 
marriage. 

Mr.  Neff  is  now  approaching  the  sunset  of  life. 
He  has  lived  worthily  and  gained  the  respect  of  his 
neighbors  and  acquaintances,  and  has  been  content 
to  follow  the  course  of  a  quiet  and  unobtrusive 
citizen,  attending  strictly  to  his  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  and  performing,  to  the  best  of  his  ability, 
the  duties  set  before  him.  He  has  had  but  little  to 
do  with  politics,  aside  from  casting  his  vote  at 
general  elections,  and  uniformly  upholding  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party.  Mrs.  N.  is  a 
lady  highly  esteemed  in  the  community,  and  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Fuller's  Point.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present 
her  portrait  beside  that  of  her  husband  as  a  fitting 
accompanying  picture. 


pILLIAM  D.  ROBERTS,  a  prosperous  and 
prominent  farmer  located  in  the  northeast- 
ern part  of  the  county,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Morgan  Township  for  over  thirty  years,  the  greater 
part  of  this  time  being  spent  on  the  body  of  land 
which  constitutes  his  present  homestead.  His  first 
purchase  consisted  of  forty  acres  of  timber,  to 
which  he  has  added  by  degrees,  until  he  is  now  the 
possessor  of  243  acres,  the  greater  part  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  His  farm  buildings  are 
convenient  and  substantial,  and  bear  comparison 
with  those  of  his  neighbors.  The  soil  is  fertile,  and 


COLES  COUNTY. 


431 


that  which  needed  draining  has  been  underlaid  with 
about  300  rods  of  tile.  He  has  a  good  assortment 
of  live  stock,  and  has  devoted  his  land  mostly  to 
the  raising  of  grain.  He  came  to  Central  Illinois 
when  the  country  was  practically  unsettled,  and 
while  watching  with  interest  the  development  and 
progress  of  the  Prairie  State,  has  contributed  his 
full  share  toward  bringing  it  to  its  present  proud 
position  among  the  commonwealths  of  the  West. 

The  earliest  years  of  our  subject  were  spent  in 
Hendricks  County,  Ind.,  where  his  birth  took  place 
April  4,  1829.  He  is  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Nancy 
Roberts,  who  were  natives  of  Scott  County,  Ky. 
His  paternal  grandparents,  Azariah  and  Lucy 
(Smith)  Roberts,  it  is  supposed  were  of  Southern 
birth.  This  branch  of  the  family  originated  from 
one  of  the  three  brothers  who  came  to  America 
from  Wales  at  an  early  day;  one  located  in  the 
South,  one  went  North,  and  the  whereabouts  of  the 
other  was  lost  track  of.  One  was  employed  as  a 
blacksmith  and  another  as  a  ship  carpenter,  the  one 
locating  in  the  North  having  no  particular  trade. 
Azariah,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  min- 
ister. The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mr.  Roberts 
were  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  had  a  fam- 
ily of  nine  children,  of  whom  but  two  are  now  liv- 
ing. One  sister  is  in  California;  she  married  Jacob 
Boots,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  is  now 
deceased.  She  became  the  mother  of  six  children. 

Azariah  Roberts  was  one  of  a  large  family,  and 
was  married  in  Kentucky,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  also  officiated  as  a  Baptist  preacher. 
He  and  his  estimable  wife  reared  a  fine  family  of 
sons  and  daughters,  and  finally  removed  to  Jen- 
nings County,  Ind.,  where  his  death  took  place  in 
1857.  The  grandmother  did  not  long  survive  her 
husband.  Their  children  had  all  married  and  left 
home  before  they  removed  from  Kentucky,  some 
of  them  having  gone  to  Indiana,  where  they  were 
joined  by  their  parents,  who  lived  among  them  the 
balance  of  their  lives.  Rev.  Roberts  was  a  man  of 
much  force  of  character,  and  a  faithful  servant  in 
his  religious  calling. 

Isaac  Roberts  emigrated  to  Indiana  in  1 828, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  of  a  blacksmith  in 
riendrick.*  County.  He  had  received  but  a  limited 
education,  b.ut  had  been  trained  to  habits  of  indus- 


try and  economy,  and  always  succeeded  in  provid- 
ing comfortably  for  his  family,  which  included  six 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  the  record  is  as 
follows:  William  D.,  of  our  sketch,  is  the  eldest; 
John  Louis  was  married  in  this  county  when  twen- 
ty-one years  old,  and  died  soon  afterward;  his 
widow  is  still  living  and  a  resident  of  Moultrie 
County ;  Aratus,  a  resident  of  Morgan  Township, 
where  he  is  carrying  on  farming,  owns  a  good 
property  and  is  the  father  of  five  children;  Anna 
Elizabeth  died  in  this  county  in  1853;  Margaret 
Jane  died  in  childhood ;  Martha  Susan  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Thomas  after  he  hud  become  a  young 
man ;  Isaac  Milton,  a  resident  of  Charleston,  where 
he  is  following  blacksmithing,  is  married  and  has  a 
family  of  four  children;  Alpheus,  the  father  of 
three  children,  is  living  on  a  farm  in  Morgan  Town- 
ship. 

William  D.  Roberts  spent  his  early  life  in  his 
native  county  engaged  in  blacksmithing  and  farm- 
ing until  1852,  when  he  came  to  this  county,  and 
made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in  Morgan  Town- 
ship. He  has  been  prominent  in  local  affairs  since 
coming  here,  was  Road  Commissioner  nine  years, 
School  Director  the  same  length  of  time,  and 
Township  Collector  one  year.  He  united  with  the 
Salem  Baptist  Church  many  years  ago,  and  has 
been  one  of  its  most  liberal  contributors.  The 
name  of  this  church  was  taken  from  the  Scriptures. 
He  has  officiated  as  Deacon  for  a  period  of  twenty- 
one  years,  and  been  Clerk  and  Trustee.  His  wife 
and  four  of  his  children  belong  to  the  same,  and 
the  church  building  which  he  once  owned  is  located 
on  his  land. 

The  marriage  of  William  D.  Roberts  and  Miss 
Ann  Douglass,  of  Hendricks  County,  Ind.,  took 
place  at  the  home  of  the  bride,  March  14,  1852. 
Mrs.  R.  is  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Margaret 
(Reed)  Douglass,  whose  family  included  eleven 
children,  the  greater  part  of  whom  are  still  living. 
They  emigrated  from  Ohio  to  Indiana  in  about 
1827,  making  the  journey  overland  in  a  two-horse 
wagon.  The.  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts 
were  Josephine,  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Shafer,  of 
Morgan  Township;  Ada  Margaret  Jane,  born  Sept. 
1«,  1859,  died  Nov.  26,  1863;  Mary  E.  is  the  wife 
of  William  Shafer,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Ash-  , 


•• 


-4«- 
432 


COLES   COUNTY. 


more  Township;  Isaac  Thomas,  born  Feb.  13,  1866, 
remains  at  home  on  the  farm.  The  wife  and  mother 
departed  this  life  Feb.  25,  1866. 

Mr.  Roberts  was  married  the  second  time,  June 
13,  1866,  to  Miss  Cynthia  Lanman,  and  the  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage  were  Spurgeon,  born  April 
18,  1867;  Oscar,  born  March  26,  1869,  died  in  in- 
fancy; William  A.,  born  April  15,  1870;  Rosanna, 
Oct.  3,  1872;  Nancy  L.,  Sept.  25,  1875.  These 
four  are  at  home,  and  Omega,  who  was  born  Dec. 
20,  1878,  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Cynthia  Roberts 
departed  this  life  Dec.  27,  1878. 

Mr.  Roberts  uniformly  votes  the  Democratic 
ticket,  and  has  been  largely  interested  in  the  many 
enterprises  set  on  foot  for  the  building  up  of  his 
community.  He  has  filled  his  niche  in  life  worth- 
ily, and  ranks  among  the  representative  men  of  his 
township. 


ON.  H.  A.  NEAL,  a  leading  local  attorney 
of  Charleston,  is  a  native  of  the  Old  Granite 
State,  born  in  Tuftonboro,  Dec.  13,  1846. 
He  is  the  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  E. 
(Folsom)  Neal,  natives  respectively  of  Maine 
and  New  Hampshire.  The  elder  Neal  has  followed 
farming  from  his  boyhood,  and  is  still  living  in  the 
town  where  his  son,  our  subject,  was  born.  He  has 
been  a  man  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  his  county, 
holding  the  various  local  offices,  and  serving  as 
Captain  of  the  State  Militia  for  several  years.  Both 
parents  are  prominently  connected  with  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  of  which  Nathaniel  Neal  is  a 
chief  pillar  in  Tuftonboro,  and  active  in  all  en- 
terprises calculated  for  the  well-being  of  his  com- 
munity. He  is  a  radical  Prohibitionist,  and  has 
watched  with  keen  interest  the  workings  of  the  tem- 
perance movement  in  both  New  England  and  the 
West. 

The  parental  family  included  four  children,  only 
two  now  living,  namely  :  Lydia  A.,  tMrs.  L.  A. 
Orue,  of  New  Hampshire,  and  Henry  A.,  of  our 
sketch.  The  latter  spent  his  younger  years  mostly 
in  attendance  at  the  public  schools,  and  when  six- 
teen years  old  entered  the  seminary  at  Effingharn, 
where  he  remained  studying  six  months.  The 
Civil  War  being  then  in  progress  he  enlisted,  in  the 


fall  of  1864,  in  Co.  K,  1st  N.  H.  Heavy  Artillery, 
and  continued  in  the  service  until  June,  1865. 
Upon  returning  home  he  resumed  his  studies  in  a 
school  at  Efflngham,  and  from  there  went  to  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  after  attending  the  Eastman 
Commercial  College  three  months,  was  graduated 
with  honors  in  the  class  of  I860.  Upon  coming 
to  Illinois  he  located  for  a  time  in  Charleston,  this 
county,  where  he  taught  school  until  the  fall  of 
1867.  He  then  took  charge  of  a  grammar  school 
at  Paris,  Edgar  County,  and  in  the  fall  of  1868  be- 
came Principal  of  the  city  schools  of  Watseka,  the 
county  seat  of  Iroquois  County,  which  position  he 
retained  for  three  years  following,  and  the  duties 
of  which  he  discharged  with  great  credit. 

Mr.  Neal  had  always  felt  an  inclination  for  the 
profession  of  law,  and  while  a  resident  of  Paris  had 
employed  his  leisure  time  in  such  works  as  would 
best  inform  him  upon  legal  questions.  He  now 
commenced  reading  in  earnest  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  Gen.  George  Hunt,  and  in  the  fall  of  1871 
repaired  to  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and  after  a  thor- 
ough course  in  the  university  was  graduated  in  the 
spring  of  1873.  His  studies,  however,  did  not  stop 
here,  but  he  pursued  them  industriously  until  fully 
qualified  for  admission  to  the  bar,  which  was  ef- 
fected that  same  year.  He  chose  Charleston  for  his 
maiden  efforts,  becoming  the  partner  of  Messrs. 
Wiley  &  Parker,  with  whom  he  continued  until 
1876.  Mr.  Parker  then  withdrew,  and  the  firm  of 
Wiley  &  Neal  has  continued  to  the  present.  Their 
office  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square,  and 
they  have  charge  of  many  of  the  important  cases  in 
litigation  in  this  section. 

The  talents  of  Mr.  Neal  received  recognition 
many  years  ago.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  Legislature  in  1876-78,  and  as  a  faithful  ex- 
ponent of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party 
has  represented  its  interests  in  various  capacities  in 
his  township  and  outside.  The  business  interests 
of  Charleston  have  received  his  due  attention  as  an 
enterprising  and  liberal-minded  citizen,  and  he  is 
now  a  stockholder  in  the  .Second  National  Bank  and 
the  Loan  and  Building  Association.  He  has  been 
a  Director  in  both  of  these  institutions,  being  con- 
nected with  the  latter  in  such  capacity  for  three 
years.  He  is  also  general  solicitor  for  the  Toledo, 


I; 


COLES   COUNTY. 


433 


St.  Louis  &  Kansas  City  Railroad  Co.,  for  the 
State  of  Illinois,  and  local  attorney  for  the  Indian- 
apolis &  St.  Louis  and  the  Peoria,  Decatur  &  Ev- 
anston  Railroad  Go's,  in  Coles  County.  Socially  he 
is  a  prominent  Mason,  and  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  the  K.  of  H. 


eHARLES  F.  BROWN,  residing  on  section  10, 
Ashmore  Township,  first  opened  his  eyes  to 
the  light  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns 
and  occupies,  and  where  for  several  years  he  has 
been  carrying  on  farming  and  stock-breeding.  He 
is  yet  com  para  lively  young  in  years,  but  has  already 
established  himself  upon  a  firm  basis,  and  ranks 
among  the  representative  men  of  Coles  County,  and 
one  closely  identified  with  its  agricultural  interests. 
The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  Sept.  7, 1848. 
His  parents,  William  H.  and  Emily  (Olmstead) 
Brown,  were  natives  of  New  York  State.  The  for- 
mer was  born  in  1813,  and  came  to  this  township  in 
1837,  locating  upon  a  tract  of  timber  land,  where 
he  opened  up  a  good  farm,  which  he  occupied  and 
cultivated  until  1882,  when  he  retired  from  active 
labor.  The  mother  was  some  years  the  junior  of 
her  husband,  and  died  Oct.  12,  1886,  passing  to 
her  final  rest  after  a  long  and  painful  illness.  She 
was  a  lady  of  amiable  Christian  character,  and  her 
memory  is  held  most  sacred  in  the  hearts  of  her 
children  and  friends.  Her  death  took  place  Oct. 
12,  1886,  and  her  remains  were  laid  in  the  ceme- 
tery at  Enon  Church. 

Young  Brown  remained  under  the  parental  roof, 
assisting  his  parents  until  after  reaching  his  major- 
ity, receiving  a  fair  education,  and  becoming  thor- 
oughly acquainted  with  the  duties  of  farm  life. 
One  of  the  most  important  events  of  his  early  man- 
hood was  his  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Tim- 
mons,  which  took  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride's 
parents  in  Ashmore  Township,  Feb.  29,  1871.  Mrs. 
Brown  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Ohio,  Nov. 
4,  1854,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Thornton  A.  and 
Mary  A.  (Kendall)  Timmons,  natives  respectively 
of  Fayette  and  Madison  Counties,  Ohio.  They 
'  were  of  German  ancestry,  and  possessed  in  a  marked 


degree  the  reliable  and  substantial  characteristics  of 
the  people  of  the  Fatherland.  Thornton  A.  Tim- 
mons was  born  Oct.  12,  1832,  and  his  wife,  Mary, 
Dec.  30,  1835.  They  were  married,  Nov.  17, 1853, 
in  Madison  County,  Ohio.  Mr.  Timmons  now  owns 
a  fine  farm  of  130  acres  in  Ashmore  Township. 
Five  of  his  brothers  served  as  Union  soldiers  in  the 
late  war,  all  being  members  of  Co.  A,  123d  111.  Vol. 
Inf.  They  enlisted  in  1862,  and  served  during  the 
entire  war,  in  which,  although  participating  in  most 
of  its  important  battles,  none  ever  received  a 
wound.  They  were  all  about  five  feet  and  ten 
inches  in  height,  and  when  standing  in  a  row  made  a 
group  of  fine-looking  men.  One  brother,  Battle  H., 
was  taken  ill  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,and  died  there 
in  the  fall  of  1863.  Mr.  Timmons  had  nine  brothers 
and  two  sisters,  namely,  Salathiel,  George  B.,  Har- 
rison, Leroy,  Laban,  John,  Isaac,  William,  Cor- 
nelius, Sallie  M.  and  Lucinda  Jane.  The  children 
of  Mr.  and- Mrs.  Timmons  were:  Elizabeth;  Mar- 
garet, now  deceased ;  Frederick  I.  and  Peter  A. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  became  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Amy  was  born  Feb.  10,  1873;  Ora,  Nov. 
4,  1875;  Mary  E.,  born  May  3,  1884,  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1885;  Hattie  E.  was  born  in  1886.  The 
homestead  includes  ninety-five  acres,  thirty-four  of 
which  is  in  valuable  timber,  and  the  balance  care- 
fully cultivated.  The  stock  and  farm  implements 
are  of  the  best  description  and  well  cared  for,  and 
the  premises  are  kept  in  good  shape.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brown  enjoy  in  a  large  degree  the  respect  and  es- 
teem of  their  neighbors,  and  for  some  years  have 
been  actively  connected  with  the  Missionary  Bap- 
tist Church,  of  which  our  subject  is  a  Trustee  and 
one  of  the  chief  pillars.  He  is  a  strong  temperance 
man,  favoring  prohibition  measures,  and  politi- 
cally, since  exercising  the  right  of  suffrage,  has 
uniformly  cast  his  vote  with  the  Republican  partyk 


AMUEL  DOTY,  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate 
in  Charleston  Township,  containing  106 
acres  of  valuable  land,  nearly  all  of  which 
is  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  has  grown 
up  with  the  township,  having  been  born  here  March 
4,  1834,  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  substantial  old 


I 


434 


COLES   COUNTY. 


pioneer  families  of  the  county.  He  is  the  son  of 
James  and  Mary  (Teel)  Doty  (see  sketch  of  James 
Doty),  and  was  raised  on  his  father's  farm  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  then  began  the  world 
for  himself,  and  earned  his  first  money  on  the  road 
to  independence  as  a  wage-worker.  He  obtained 
employment  on  farms  in  the  vicinity,  receiving  for 
his  services  $15  per  month  in  the  summer,  and  113 
in  the  winter.  He  was  faithful,  industrious  and 
economical,  and  at  the  end  of  five  years  had  saved 
$300  from  his  hard-earned  wages. 

Our  subject  then  purchased  fifty  acres  of  his 
present  property,  which  was  unimproved  and  cov- 
ered with  a  dense  growth  of  underbrush,  but  he 
worked  hard,  and  soon  cleared  the  land  and  also 
the  indebtedness  incurred  in  making  the  purchase. 
He  then  increased  his  possessions  by  an  addition  of 
forty-six  acres,  and  subsequently  purchased  ten 
acres  more,  all  of  which  comprises  his  present  fine 
farm.  The  soil  is  rich,  producing  excellent  crops 
every  year,  and  he  is  energetic  and  industrious, 
cultivating  and  improving  it  to  the  utmost. 

April  24,  1864,  Mr.  Doty  was  united  in  marriage 
with  his  cousin,  Mrs.  Cynthia  (Doty)  Parker,  who 
was  likewise  a  native  of  this  township,  born  Aug. 
26,  1834,  and  the  daughter  of  Levi  and  Matilda 
(Phipps)  Doty.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  a 
family  of  three  children :  Melinda,  now  the  wife 
of  N.  B.  Hill;  Levi  D.  and  Eldorado  E.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Doty  have  no  children. 

In  1884  Mr.  Doty  established  a  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Lerna,  in  partnership  with  his  stepson,  El- 
dorado, which  they  continued  until  the  autumn  of 
1886.  His  stepson  having  decided  to  enter  school 
for  the  purpose  of  preparing  himself  for  the  minis- 
try, they  sold  off  the  stock,  although  Mr.  Doty  still 
owns  the  property.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  Mrs.  Doty  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  Church. 


JHOHN    T.    MONTGOMERY,    M.    D.,    well 
I    known   throughout  Coles  County  as  one  of 
its  most  skillful  and  successful  physicians,  is 
'    still  a  young  man,  with  a  prospect  of   many 

years  of  usefulness,  both  as  a  citizen  and  practi- 


tioner.  He  has  already  made  his  mark  in  his  pro- 
fession, and  has  fully  established  himself  in  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances.  Dr.  Montgomery  is  a  native 
of  Greenfield,  Mo.,  born  Oct.  18, 1852,  and  the  son 
of  Rev.  George  W.  and  Sarah  A.  (Rankin)  Mont- 
gomery, natives  of  Tennessee.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Samuel  Montgomery,  was  born  in  the  North 
of  Ireland,  and  was  brought  when  an  infant  to  this 
country  by  his  parents,  who  located  in  North  Car- 
olina. He  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits,  and 
moved  across  the  Mississippi,  where  his  death  took 
place  in  Greenfield,  Mo.,  in  1858.  He  had  in  the 
meantime  married,  and  reared  a  family  of  eleven 
children.  Two  of  the  sons  are  yet  living,  namely, 
Rev.  George  W.  and  Nelson.  The  former  com- 
menced his  labors  as  a  Christian  minister  in  1 849, 
identifying  himself  with  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terians. His  first  charge  was  in  Greene  County, 
Mo.,  whence  he  came  to  this  county  in  1 866,  set- 
tling in  Oakland,  where  he  remained  until  1872, 
and  then  became  a  resident  of  Ashmore,  where  he 
has  a  charge  and  continues  his  pious  mission  in  the 
same  intelligent  and  able  manner  for  which  he  was 
distinguished  at  the  outset. 

In  the  household  of  Rev.  George  and  Mrs.  Sarah 
Montgomery  were  twelve  children,  of  whom  John 
T.  was  the  eldest.  The  father  had  wisely  invested 
his  surplus  funds  in  a  medium  sized  farm,  which 
provided  a  comfortable  home  for  his  children,  and 
where  our  subject  was  reared  until  seventeen  years 
of  age,  pursuing  his  studies  in  the  district  schools. 
Afterward  he  attended  Mt.  Zion  Seminary,  the 
Decatur  High  School  and  the  Illinois  State  Normal 
School,  finishing  his  studies  in  the  latter  institution. 
He  commenced  reading  medicine  under  the  in- 
struction of  Dr.  W.  J.  Peak,  of  Oakland,  after 
which  he  entered  Chicago  Medical  College,  where 
he  graduated  with  honors  on  the  21st  of  March, 
1876. 

Dr.  Montgomery  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession  as  partner  of  his  former  pre- 
ceptor, Dr.  Peak,  with  whom  he  continued  six 
months  at  Oakland.  He  then  removed  to  Bushton, 
where  he  practiced  five  and  one-half  years.  He 
took  up  his  residence  in  Charleston  in  the  spring  of 
1882,  and  in  the  comparatively  brief  time  as  a 


COLES  COUNTY. 


485 


physician  here,  has  made  really  remarkable  headway. 
He  is  a  close  student  and  an  extensive  reader,  and 
has  availed  himself  of  every  opportunity  to  ad- 
vance in  the  knowledge  of  his  profession.  He  has 
identified  himself  with  the  American  Medical  As- 
sociation, the  Esculapian  Medical  Society  of  the 
Wabash  Valley,  and  the  Coles  County  Medical 
Society  of  Surgery  and  Medicine. 

Dr.  Montgomery  was  married,  Oct.  12,  1876,  to 
Miss  Mary  A.  Gerard,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  the 
daughter  of  Jackson  Gerard.  Of  this  union  there 
have  been  born  four  children — Sarah  E.,  Mack  G., 
Mary  M.  and  John  T.  The  family  is  pleasantly 
located  in  a  snug  home  in  the  central  part  of  the 
city,  and  enjoy  the  society  of  its  refined  and  culti- 
vated people.  The  Doctor  is  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  socially  belongs  to  the  Masons,  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  and  the  K.  of  P.  He  was  one  of  the  orig- 
inal Directors  of  the  Charleston  Home  and  Loan 
Association,  and  in  1884  was  United  States  Exam- 
ining Surgeon  of  the  Fourteenth  Congressional 
District.  He  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  City 
Board  of  Education,  and  a  man  who  uniformly 
takes  an  interest  in  every  enterprise  calculated  for 
the  welfare  and  progress  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


WILLIAM  MILLAR  became  a  resident  of 
Lafayette  Township,  this  county,  in  March, 
1854,  and  for  a  period  of  over  thirty  years 
has  walked  in  and  out  among  its  people  in  a  worthy 
and  creditable  manner,  and  has  contributed  his 
share  toward  the  farming  interests  of  this  section 
by  building  up  a  homestead  which  forms  one  of  the 
most  attractive  features  of  the  landscape.  This  in- 
cludes 346  acres  on  section  3,  in  Lafayette  Town- 
ship, and  is  provided  with  shapely  and  substantial 
buildings  and  all  the  accessories  of  the  modern 
rural  home.  The  history  of  this  honored  pioneer, 
who  is  now  passing  down  the  sunset  hill  of  life, 
comprises  an  interesting  array  of  facts  which  are 
substantially  as  follows: 

Mr.  Millar  was  born  in  Hampshire  County,  now 
West  Virginia,  Aug.  10,  1811.  His  ancestors  for 
several  generations  resided  in  the  Old  Dominion, 
his  grandfather,  Isaac  Millar,  having  been  Surveyor 


of  the  State,  and  received  his  commission  from 
Lord  Dunmore  of  England  in  1774.  The  books 
containing  his  notes  in  relation  to  his  calling,  are 
in  the  possession  of  his  grandson,  our  subject,  and 
are  treasured  as  one  of  the  priceless  relics  of  the 
past.  Isaac  Millar  was  married,  and  reared  a  family 
in  the  Old  Dominion,  among  his  sons  being  Michael, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  in  Hamp- 
shire County,  March  30,  1785.  He  followed  farm- 
ing, and  dealt  largely  in  live  stock.  There  were 
then  no  railroads,  and  stock  had  to  be  driven  from 
the  place  where  it  was  raised,  to  Baltimore,  Phila- 
delphia or  New  York  City,  the  trip  frequently  con- 
suming thirty  days'  time. 

Michael  Millar  spent  nearly  all  his  life  in  his  na- 
tive State,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  time  spent 
near  Columbus,  Ohio,  after  his  marriage.  About 
that  time  he  built  a  flatboat,  loaded  the  same  with 
bacon,  and  went  down  with  it  to  New  Orleans,  his 
boat  being  the  first  to  make  the  trip  to  the  Crescent 
City.  Upon  the  return  he  traveled  on  horseback 
through  the  Indian  Territory,  and  not  long  after- 
ward settled  down  permanently  in  his  native  State, 
where  his  death  took  place  Nov.  10,  1872.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  formerly  Miss  Hannah 
Decker,  who  was  born  in  Hampshire  County,  Va., 
Jan.  23,  1790,  and  became  the  wife  of  Michael 
Millar  in  1808  or  1809.  Her  death  occurred  at  the 
homestead  in  Virginia,  Aug.  9,  1860.  The  parental 
household  included  four  children,  namely,  Eliza- 
beth, who  became  the  wife  of  James  Parsons,  and 
is  now  deceased;  William,  of  our  sketch;  Sarah, 
who  married  Francis  Murphey  and  is  now  deceased, 
and  John  D.,  who  is  in  possession  of  the  old  home- 
stead. 

William  Millar  received  the  advantages  of  a 
common-school  education,  obtaining  further  in- 
struction in  a  private  school.  He  assisted  his  father 
and  brothers  around  the  homestead,  and  frequently 
traveled  the  long  distance  required  in  driving  his 
stock  to  market.  Soon  after  reaching  his  majority, 
he  was  married,  Dec.  26,  1832,  to  Miss  Sarah, 
daughter  of  David  and  Hannah  (Cunningham)  Van 
Meter,  a  native  of  Hard}'  County,  Va.,  born  July 
15,  1817.  The  father  of  our  subject  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land,  and  after  his  marriage,  William  lo- 
cated upon  a  portion  of  this  and  carried  on  farming 


436 


COLES   COUNTY. 


4 


in  his  native  State  until  1853.  He  had  now  be- 
come the  father  of  ten  children,  and  desiring  for 
them  better  advantages  than  could  be  obtained  in 
the  South,  came  to  this  State  to  seek  for  a  perma- 
nent location,  in  which  plan  his  excellent  wife  and 
helpmeet  cordially  co-operated.  The  face  of  the 
country  in  Central  Illinois  pleased  him  greatly,  and 
he  soon  afterward  purchased  640  acres  of  land  in 
Lafayette  Township,  to  which  he  removed  his  family 
the  following  spring.  Like  his  father  before  him, 
he  had  turned  his  attention  largely  to  stock-raising, 
and  after  becoming  permanently  settled  here,  his 
great  herds  of  cattle  grazed  on  the  site  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  flourishing  little  city  of  Mattoon.  It 
was  all  open  prairie  at  that  time,  and  the  neighbors 
were  few  and  far  between. 

William  Millar,  upon  coming  to  this  section,  had 
enough  money  to  pay  for  his  land,  and  brought 
with  him  good  horses  from  his  native  State.  His 
farm  underwent  rapid  improvement,  and  he  added 
to  his  first  purchase  until  he  became  the  owner  of 
1,200  acres  in  one  body  in  Lafayotte  Township, 
besides  970  acres  in  Piatt  County,  and  afterward 
purchased  other  land  in  different  places.  Soon 
after  coming  to  this  State  he  imported  two  head  of 
Short-horn  cattle  from  Ohio,  being  one  of  the  first 
to  introduce  this  breed  into  Coles  County.  His 
uncle,  William  Millar,  Sr.,  was  one  of  the  first  im- 
porters of  fine  cattle  from  England,  as  will  be  seen 
by  examination  of  the  American  Herd  Book. 

Mr.  Millar  was  always  wide-awake  and  enterpris- 
ing, keeping  his  eyes  open  to  what  was  going  on 
around  him,  and  was  one  of  the  original  members 
of  the  Coles  County  Agricultural  Society,  in  which 
he  served  as  President,  with  the  exception  of  two 
years,  for  thirty  consecutive  years.  The  society 
under  his  management  became  self-sustaining  and 
prosperous,  and  was  one  of  the  four  county  socie- 
ties in  the  State  whose  treasury  was  sufficiently 
well-filled  to  meet  the'demands  upon  it.  Mr.  Mil- 
lar finally  found  that  the  duties  were  too  great  for 
his  advancing  age,  and  resigned  the  position  amid 
the  regrets  of  all  who  had  been  interested  in  its  es- 
tablishment and  maintenance. 

The  household  circle  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Millar  was 
completed  by  the  birth  of  thirteen  children,  of 
whom  one  died  in  infancy,  and  three  others  were 


laid  in  a  country  churchyard  since  their  residence 
in  Illinois.  The  remaining  nine  are  living,  and  all 
married,  being  settled  with  their  families  in  com- 
fortable homes  of  their  own.  Mr.  M.  and  his  wife 
feel  quite  proud  of  the  fact  that  they  are  grand- 
parents to  upwards  of  thirty  children,  and  great- 
grandparents  to  seven.  One  Sabbath  Day  there 
were  representatives  of  four  generations  of  the 
Millar  family  seated  in  one  pew  at  the  church  at 
Mattoon.  The  living  children  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  are,  Hannah,  the  wife  of  Edwin  W.  Vause, 
of  Lafayette  Township ;  Garrett  V. ;  Adam  ;  Eliza- 
beth, the  widow  of  Dr.  T.  B.  Dora;  Michael;  Je-. 
mima,  the  wife  of  James  Vause;  Sarah  M.,  the 
wife  of  William  Parsons,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. ; 
Mary  Frances,  the  wife  of  John  I.  Van  Meter,  of 
Harper  County,  Kan.,  and  William  E.  With  the 
exception  of  the  two  daughters  residing  in  the 
West,  all  are  located  near  their  parents  in  Lafayette 
Township.  They  have  been  well  educated,  and 
form  a  family  group  of  which  the  parents  may  well 
be  proud. 

Mr.  Millar  has  been  a  good  father  to  his  children, 
giving  each  of  them  a  goodly  amount  of  personal 
property  and  land,  so  that  they  were  enabled  to 
start  out  in  life  in  a  manner  creditable  to  their  po- 
sition, as  sons  and  daughters  of  a  wealthy  and  in- 
fluential citizen.  He  still  retains  500  acres  of  his 
original  farm,  the  proceeds  of  which  yield  him  a 
handsome  income.  He  has  held  the  various  offices 
of  the  township,  and  although  independent  of  party 
lines,  usually  casts  his  vote  with  the  Democratic 
party.  He  lias  been  an  active  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  for  over  half  a  century,  officiating 
as  Elder  for  over  forty  years.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Building  Committee  which  erected  the 
church  edifice  at  Charleston,  and  afterward  assisted 
materially  in  the  erection  of  the  church  at  Mattoon. 
and  has  always  been  interested  in  the  measures  set 
on  foot  for  the  moral  and  intellectual  welfare  of 
the  community. 

Our  subject  and  his  estimable  lady  have  lived 
together  harmoniously  for  a  period  of  over  fifty- 
five  years.  They  celebrated  their  golden  wedding, 
Dec.  20,  1882,  and  were  visited  by  a  large  circle  of 
children  and  friends.  It  was  the  special  request  of 
the  aged  pair  that  no  presents  should  be  given,  but  i  - 


i 


COLES   COUNTY. 


437 


i 


nevertheless  the  friends  could  not  refrain  from  fur- 
nishing some  slight  token  of  their  respect  and  es- 
teem, and  accordingly  among  other  gifts,  presented 
a  large  and  elegantly  bound  Bible,  which  was  the 
offering  principally  of  the  members  of  the  church. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  are  well-preserved,  sociable  and 
happy  old  people,  and  have  so  lived  that  their 
children  heartily  unite  in  speaking  of  their  home 
as  the  spot  which  has  been  immortalized  in  song, 
and  which  will  probably  be  sung  as  long  as  the 
sentiment  reigns  within  the  human  heart,  that 
"  There  is  no  place  like  home." 


ETER  GOBERT,  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners of  East  Oakland  Township,  is  finely 
located  on  sections  19  and  31,  where  he  has 
a  valuable  farm  of  240  acres,  a  handsome 
and  commodious  dwelling,  and  all  the  appurtenances 
of  a  first-class  country  estate.  He  also  has  a  tract 
of  equal  size  in  Douglas  County.  It  is  a  notable 
fact,  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Central  Illinois  came  from  across  the  sea  to  seek  a 
home  in  the  New  World,  at  a  time  when  their  native 
land  seemed  to  offer  them  but  little  inducement  as 
citizens,  and  but  little  reward  for  their  labors  as 
agriculturists,  or  in  the  industrial  department  of 
business  and  trade.  Of  these,  our  subject  is  a 
striking  example.  His  early  home  was  in  the  de- 
partment of  Murthe  and  Province  of  Lorraine, 
France,  where  his  birth  took  place  at  the  home  of 
his  father,  Oct.  17,  1821.  He  is  the  only  child  of 
John  C.  and  Ann  (Gazin)  Gobert,  who  were  na- 
tives of  the  same  Province  as  their  son,  and  be- 
lieved to  be  of  pure  German  ancestry. 

John  C.  Gobert  was  born  June  26,  1799,  at  the 
time  when  France  was  a  Republic,  and  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  with  his  family  in  1832.  His 
decease  occurred  at  his  home  in  East  Oakland 
Township,  Oct.  29,  1864,  on  Saturday,  and  he  was 
buried  the  following  day  in  the  cemetery  near  his 
home.  He  was  born  and  reared  in  the  Catholic 
Church,  but  for  the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life 
seldom  attended  religious  services.  His  early  life 
was  spent  in  the  vineyards  of  his  native  France, 


but  after  coining  to  this  country,  he  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  and  accumulated  a  fair  com- 
petency. As  a  man,  he  was  generous  and  free- 
hearted, and  made  many  friends. 

The  marriage  of  the  parents  took  place  Oct.  10, 
1820,  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  being  thus  recorded  on 
the  parish  register  of  the  village  of  Dombasle. 
Twelve  years  later  he  and  his  wife  set  sail  for 
America  and  landed  in  New  York  City,  whence 
they  at  once  proceeded  directly  to  Buffalo,  which 
remained  their  home  for  five  years  following.  The 
elder  Gobert,  in  the  meantime,  maintained  his 
family  working  by  the  day,  and  by  this  means  laid 
the  foundation  for  his  future  home.  On  the  4th  of 
May,  1837,  he  started  for  the  West,  reaching  Chi- 
cago on  the  10th  of  June,  remaining  until  Novem- 
ber. Thence  he  came  to  this  county,  and  entering 
forty  acres  of  land  in  East  Oakland  Township, 
erected  a  log  cabin  for  the  shelter  of  his  family, 
which  they  occupied  for  five  years,  while  the  father 
proceeded  with  the  cultivation  and  improvement 
of  his  land.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he 
put  up  a  hewed-log  house  which  in  those  days  was 
considered  very  fine  indeed.  There,  with  their 
only  child,  our  subject,  they  continued  to  live  un- 
til the  death  of  the  mother,  in  February,  1861. 
She  was  a  lady  of  many  estimable  qualities,  and 
the  junior  of  her  husband  by  about  three  years. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  remained  a  member 
of  the  parental  household  for  about  a  year  after 
reaching  his  majority,  and  began  the  establish- 
ment of  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Melinda  R.  Ashmore,  which  took  place 
at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents  in  this  township 
on  the  8th  of  June,  1843.  This  lady  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  born  March  22, 1824,  and  after  becom- 
ing the  mother  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are 
now  living,  she  departed  this  life  at  the  home  of  her 
husband  in  East  Oakland  Township,  Feb.  21,  1861. 
Their  family  included  Samuel,  Charles,  Louis. 
Lafayette  and  Virginia,  living,  and  Elizabeth  A., 
Mary  J.,  Albert  and  John  C.,  deceased.  The  pres- 
ent wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was  married 
Oct.  17,  1861,  was  formerly  Miss  Matilda  A. 
Roberts,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  June  26,  1836. 
The  children  of  this  union  are  Alice,  born  Aug.  1, 
1862;  Thomas,  June  11,  1864;  Napoleon,  born 


f 


.  >   488 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Jan.  18,  1866,  died  Aug.  25,  1885;  Frank,  born 
Sept.  23,  1870;  Willis  P.,  born  March  18,  1877, 
died  Aug.  19,  1878. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  reared  their  son  in 
the  Catholic  faith.  He  has,  however,  not  connected 
himself  with  any  Church  organization,  being  a  free- 
thinker and  esteeming  the  Golden  Rule  the  sum 
and  substance  of  true  religion.  He  has  been 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  township  and  there 
are  few  enterprises  set  on  foot  for  the  good  of  the 
community  in  which  his  townsmen  have  not  solic- 
ited the  aid  of  his  discreet  and  temperate  judg- 
ment. In  1861  he  served  as  Township  Collector, 
and  was  Commissioner  of  Highways  six  years,  also 
School  Director  for  a  number  of  terms.  Politically, 
he  casts  his  vote  with  the  Democratic  party,  and 
is  greatly  pleased  with  the  present  administration. 


i  AMES  DOTY,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Coles 
County,  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate  of  150 
acres  of  valuable  land  in  Charleston  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  Jan.  15,  1810,  in  Butler 
County,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Anna 
(Mann)  Doty  (see  sketch  of  Levi  Doty).  With 
his  widowed  mother  he  came  across  the  Wabash 
River  to  Coles  County,  111.,  in  1826,  and  first 
settled  near  the  headwaters  of  the  Kickapoo  Creek, 
where  he  assisted  his  mother  and  worked  for  the 
neighboring  farmers. 

Our  subject's  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Teel  took 
place  in  1831.  She  was  born  Sept.  28,  1812,  in 
Tennessee,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Isabelle  Teel.  Her  parents  were  likewise  among 
the  early  settlers  of  this  county.  After  his  mar- 
riage, he  purchased  land,  which  he  successfully 
cultivated  and  improved,  adding  to  it  as  his  cir- 
cumstances improved,  until,  by  industry  and 
energy,  he  acquired  his  present  fine  property. 

Mrs.  James  Doty,  who  for  so  many  years  had 
shared  with  her  husband  the  joys  and  sorrows  of 
pioneer  life,  was  removed  by  death  in  1880.  She 
left  a  family  of  eleven  children,  whose  record  is  as 
follows:  John  W.,  Samuel  T.,  George  W.,  James 
T.,  Emsley  T.,  Riley;  Vienna,  the  wife  of  Charles 


Briggs;  Sarah,  Mrs.  H.  L.  Briggs;  Mary,  Mrs. 
William  Wade;  Almeda  is  also  married,  and 
Harriet  E.,  Mrs.  Alex  Streeter. 


RTHUR  D.  SUITT,  proprietor  of  a  general 
mercantile  establishment  at  Loxa,  and  one 
of  the  rising  young  men  of  the  place,  was 
born  Oct.  9,  1857,  in  Guernsey  County, 
Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Matilda  (Cow- 
an) Suitt.  William  Suitt  was  born  Jan.  23,  1824, 
in  Maryland,  and  was  there  taught  the  carpenter's 
trade.  Early  in  life  he  left  his  Eastern  home  and 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  his  marriage  to  Miss  Ma- 
tilda Cowan  took  place,  in  1847.  Mrs.  Suitt  was 
born  in  1826,  in  Pennsylvania.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Suitt  remained  in  Ohio  for  some  time,  and  then 
removing  to  Illinois  with  his  famity,  settled  in  the 
city  of  Mattoon.  After  remaining  there  two  years 
he  went  to  Lafayette  Township,  and  there  com- 
menced farming,  and  the  following  year  removed 
to  Loxa,  where  he  still  lives,  and  continues  work- 
ing at  his  trade,  although  quite  advanced  in  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Suitt  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  whose  record  is  as  follows:  Philip  C.,  a 
resident  of  Leotia,  Kan. ;  Arthur ;  Emma,  the  wife 
of  John  Gaines,  a  resident  of  Douglas  County,  111. ; 
John,  Frank,  and  Matilda,  the  wife  of  George  E. 
Shinn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Suitt  are  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics  Mr. 
Suitt  sustains  the  Republican  party,  although  he 
never  aspires  to  office,  and  is  not  actively  interested 
in  political  affairs.  John  and  Frank  are  residents 
of  Douglas  County,  111. 

Arthur  Suitt  was  a  boy  when  his  family  removed 
to  Coles  County.  He  received  a  practical,  com- 
mon-school education,  and  attended  Lee's  Academy 
at  Loxa  for  a  short  time.  After  leaving  school  he 
worked  'at  the  carpenter's  trade  with  his  father,  but 
his  inclinations  and  business  abilities  led  him  to 
prefer  mercantile  life,  and  in  July,  1883,  he  estab- 
lished a  general  mercantile  business  at  Loxa,  asso- 
ciated with  his  brother,  Philip  C.,  under  the  firm 
name  of  P.  C.  Suitt  <fe  Bro.  They  were  success- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


ful,  and  continued  the  partnership  until  Decem- 
ber, 1885,  when  Arthur  Suitt  purchased  his  broth- 
er's interest  in  the  store,  and  has  since  been  sole 
proprietor  of  the  business. 

Arthur  Suitt  was  married  on  the  31st  of  August, 
1887,  to  Miss  Nettie  Dornblaser.  Mrs.  Suitt  is  "he 
daughter  of  P.  H.  and  Mary  (Jeffris)  "Dornblaser, 
and  was  born  Nov.  28,  1864,  in  Paradise  Township, 
Coles  County. 


'  AMES  M.  PHILLIPS,  a  gentleman  in  the 
prime  of  life  and  in  the  midst  of  his  useful- 
ness, is  a  native  of  this  State,  and  was  born 
in  Moultrie  County  Feb.  8.  1848.  He  was 
bred  to  farm  pursuits,  and  purposes  following  these 
in  the  future.  He  comes  of  a  good  family,  whose 
first  representatives  upon  coming  to  this  country 
settled  in  the  South.  His  great-grandfather,  Rob- 
ert Phillips,  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  married.  He  emigrat- 
ed to  Moultrie  County,  111.,  in  about  1846,  and 
subsequently  took  up  land  in  this  countj',  where  he 
established  a  good  homestead,  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  His  death  occurred  in  about 
1859,  his  wife  having  died  some  years  previously. 
They  reared  a  large  family  of  children,  and  ex- 
perienced all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pio- 
neer life,  contributing  their  full  quota  toward  the 
development  of  a  new  section  of  country. 

Among  the  sons  of  Robert  Phillips  was  McCagha, 
who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  county.  He  left  home  when 
quite  young,  and  commenced  working  by  the 
month,  continuing  thus  occupied  until  his  marriage. 
His  wife  was  also  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  five  children,  all  born  in  that 
State.  In  about  1844  they  came  north  to  Moultrie 
County,  this  State,  and  settled  upon  a  tract  of  land 
in  East  Nelson  Township,  where  the  father  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  resting  from  his  earthlv 
labors  in  October,  1876.  When  about  sixty-six 
years  of  age,  he  was  stricken  with  blindness,  and 
for  a  period  of  nearly  twenty  years  never  saw  the 
light  of  day.  He  bore  his  affliction  with  remark- 
able patience  and  courage,  never  complaining  of 


his  misfortune,  but  accepting  it  rrom  the  hand  of 
Providence,  as  the  dispensation  of  a  Power  wiser 
than  ourselves.  lie  lived  to  be  eighty-five  years  of 
age,  and  was  a  man  of  many  excellent  qualities.  He 
had  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  the  Horse  Shoe. 

The  paternal  grandmother  of  our  subject  was 
born,  married  and  died  in  Tennessee,  and  with  her 
husband,  lived  the  life  of  a  devoted  Christian,  both 
being  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Her  death 
took  place  in  about  1840.  Their  five  children 
were,  Malinda,  now  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Vaughn,  of 
Mattoon ;  Calvin,  the  father  of  our  subject ;  Emeline, 
who  married  her  cousin,  William  Phillips,  of 
Tennessee;  William,  who  died  young,  and  Martin 
I  K.,  now  living  in  Coles  County.  After  the  death 

•  of  his  first  wife,  Grandfather  Phillips  was  married  a 
!   second  time,  in  about  1845,  to  Miss  Sarah  Cropper, 

in  Moultrie  County,  111.  Their  three  children  were 
Andrew  J.,  now  living  in  this  county;  Pauline,  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Weiley,  of  Moultrie  County,  111., 
and  Benjamin,  who  died  when  four  years  of  age. 
This  lady  survived  her  husband,  and  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  this  county.  She  also  possesses  many  estim- 
able qualities,  is  a  devoted  Christian,  and  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Calvin   Phillips,   the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Tennessee,  Oct.   20,    1825.     He  remained 
under  the  home  roof   until   his  marriage,  and  was 
bred  to   farm  pursuits.       He  possessed   more   than 
ordinary  ability,   and   after  his  marriage   came  to 
Moultrie  County,  this  State,  and  entered  sixty  acres 
of  wild  land  upon   which  lie   made  good  improve- 
ments, and  which  he  occupied  for  several  years.  In 
I    1856  he  sold  out,  and  going  across  the  Mississippi, 
I   purchased  320  acres  of  wild  land  in  Adair  County, 
i   Mo.,  where  he  resided  eight  years.   He  put  up  a  good 
house  on  his  land,   and   made  some  improvements, 
i    but  finally  came  back  to   this  State  and  purchased 

•  120  acres  in  North  Okaw  Township.      This  he  oc- 
cupied ten  years,  in  the  meantime  having  accumu- 
lated a  competency,  and  then  abandoning  farming, 
purchased  property   at  Mattoon,  where  he  took  up 
his  residence  and  spent  the  remainder   of  his  life, 
retired  from  active  labor.    His  death  took  place  on 
the  26th  of  August,  1881.  amid  the   tears  and  re- 
grets of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


•4 


-t. 


4 


440 


COLES  COUNTY. 


1 


He  had  built  up  the  iecord  of  an  honest  man  and  a 
good  citizen,  and  served  his  township  in  the  various 
minor  offices,  discharging  his  duties  in  a  faithful 
and  conscientious  manner.  In  politics,  he  uniformly 
cast  his  vote  with  the  Democratic  party. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  formerly  Miss 
Ruth  M.  Chowning,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
born  Feb.  8,  1829.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Mary  (Owens)  Chowning,  and  was  married  to 
Calvin  Phillips  in  Moultrie  Counly,  this  State,  July 
6,  1846.  She  was  the  earnest  sympathizer  with  her 
husband  in  his  plans  and  labors  in  life,  and  with 
him  was  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Her  death  took  place  May  25,  1877,  at 
the  homestead  in  Mattoon.  The  household  circle 
was  completed  by  the  birth  of  six  children,  of  whom 
the  record  is  as  follows:  James  M.,  of  our  sketch, 
was  the  eldest  of  the  family;  Nancy  E.  became 
the  wife  of  W.  A.  Hoots,  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  this  county;  Mary  A.  is  living  in  Mattoon; 
McCagha  married  Miss  Ada  Gilmer,  and  is  farming 
in  Butler  County,  Kan. ;  two  died  in  infancy. 

The  subject  of  this  history  remained  a  member 
of  his  father's  household  until  his  marriage.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Coles 
County,  and  early  in  life  began  his  plans  for  the 
future.  He  accumulated  some  money,  and  pur- 
chased fifty  acres  of  land,  and  was  thus  prepared 
to  introduce  his  bride  to  a  comfortable  home. 
This  lady  was  Miss  Nancy  E.  Wade,  a  native 
of  this  county,  and  born  March  3,  1854.  Her  par- 
ents, William  A.  J.  and  Mary  (Stineinan)  Wade, 
were  natives  of  Ohio,  the  father  being  born  in 
Adams  County.  They  came  to  Coles  County  in 
the  pioneer  days,  and  suffered  the  privations  and 
hardships  of  life  in  a  new  settlement.  The  mother 
died  when  her  daughter,  Nancy  E.,  was  an  infant 
of  eleven  mouths,  in  1855.  The  death  of  the  father 
took  place  in  this  county,  some  years  later.  Miss 
Wade  became  the  wife  of  our  subject  Oct.  10, 
1872.  Soon  afterward  they  commenced  housekeep- 
ing on  a  farm  which  Mr.  Phillips  had  previously 
purchased,  and  which  they  occupied  seven  years. 

Mr.  Phillips  took  possession  of  his  farm  in  North 
Okaw  Township  in  the  spring  of  1881.  It  com- 
prises one  of  the  most  desirable  homesteads  in  this 
section  and  contains  eighty  acres  under  a  fine 


state  of  cultivation,  with  a  handsome  frame  dwell- 
ing in  the  midst  of  beautiful  grounds,  with  a  good 
barn  and  other  out-buildings,  and  a  valuable  orch- 
ard in  the  rear.  The  improvements  effected  here 
are  the  result  of  his  own  industry  and  good  taste, 
but  he  has  thought  best  to  make  a  change,  and  re- 
cently sold  this  to  purchase  another  farm  on  sec- 
tion 18,  also  well-improved  and  supplied  with  good 
buildings.  It  embraces  103  acres,  and  of  this  Mr. 
Phillips  purposes  taking  possession  next  year. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  became  the  parents  of  four 
children,  two  of  whom  were  taken  from  the  house- 
hold circle  by  death:  Ina,  born  Oct.  14,  1874,  re- 
mains at  home  with  her  parents:  Calvin,  born  Feb. 
10,  187G,  died  Jan.  6,  1877;  Robert,  born  Oct.  22, 
1878,  died  Feb.  10,  1879;  Francis  M.,  born  May 
12,  1881,  is  a  bright  little  boy,  and  the  darling  of 
the  household.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  are  members 
in  good  standing  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Fuller's 
Point,  and  politically,  Mr.  P.  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party. 


S|  AMES  TAYLOR  CUNNINGHAM  was  boru 

in  Hardin  County,  Ky,  July  11,  1802.     He 

I    w 


I 

^_^  II  was  a  very  energetic  boy  but  his  father  was 
vjjjy)  a  cripple,  and  unable  to  work  on  the  farm, 
and  as  the  children  were  all  girls  except  his  young 
brother,  Harrison,  it  was  no  easy  task  for  James  T. 
to  practically  assume  the  role  of  head  of  the  family, 
and  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door. 

On  the  loth  of  September,  1825,  James  T.  Cun- 
ningham was  married  to  Elizabeth  Cea  Yocum. 
They  were  both  poor,  but  managed  to  secure  a 
little  tract  of  land  about  four  miles  from  Litch- 
field,  Ky.,  where  they  lived  a  short  time,  when 
Ambrose  Yocum  and  our  subject  conceived  the 
idea  of  building  a  flatboat,  and  taking  the  surplus 
products  to  New  Orleans.  The  rude  craft  was 
launched  on  Rough  Creek,  whence  it  made  its  way 
to  the  Crescent  City,  and  the  produce  was  disposed 
of  satisfactorily.  This  was  really  the  first  start  in 
James  T.  Cunningham's  life.  He  and  his  brother- 
in-law,  Ambrose  Yocum,  (who  were  captains  and 
capitalists  of  this  vessel)  sold  the  ship  and  cargo 
and  worked  their  way  home  on  a  steamboat.  In 


t 

If 


COLES  COUNTY. 


441  - 


October,  1830,  Mr..  C.  and  his  partner,  Yocum, 
moved  to  Illinois.  Yocom  settled  on  the  Em- 
barras  River  about  two  miles  from  Charleston, 
and  was  the  first  Sheriff  of  Coles  County,  while 
Cunningham  settled  four  miles  south  of  what  is 
now  Mat-toon. 

Mr.  Cunningham  never  had  the  advantages  of 
an  early  education,  but  was  endowed  with  brains 
and  energy  never  excelled  by  the  pioneers  of 
Illinois.  His  accumulations  of  property  were  very 
considerable,  as  he  bought  large  tracts  of  land  and 
was  the  leading  dealer  in  live-stock  in  Coles 
County.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
afterward  served  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
for  three  years,  two  of  which  sessions  were  held  in 
Vandalia. 

During  these  sessions  he  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  some  of  the  greatest  men  who  ever  lived; 
W.  L.  D.  Pawing,  Speaker  of  the  House,  Gen.  Will- 
iam F.  Thornton,  Col.  Ed.  Baker  (the  brilliant  poetic 
orator),  Abraham  Lincoln,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  O. 
B.  Ficklin,  John  J.  Hardin  (afterward  killed  in  the 
Mexican  War),  and  a  host  of  other  great  names 
which  would  honor  any  country.  At  Vandalia, 
Mr.  C.  formed  a  friendship  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
which  lasted  through  life. 

One  little  incident  would  illustrate  this:  His 
son-in-law,  Col.  Monroe,  came  home  on  a  fur- 
lough, and  while  here  the  123d  Illinois  Regiment 
was  formed  and  organized  at  Mattoou.  James 
Monroe  was  elected  Colonel,  and  while  these 
elections  by  raw  recruits  were  not  binding  except 
as  a  recommendation  to  Gov.  Yates,  yet  they  had 
a  voice,  almost  of  authority,  in  dictating  the  com- 
missions to  be  issued.  The  election  of  officers 
occurred  in  the  afternoon  on  the  fair  ground,  and 
seemed  to  delight  the  new  regiment  and  the  people 
of  Mattoon,  but  what  was  the  surprise  when  the 
Chicago  papers  of  that  day  brought  the  news  of 
Secretary  Stanton's  order  that  all  old  officers  hold- 
ing positions  in  the  Government  service  should  not 
be  allowed  to  take  places  in  the  new  regiments 
forming  at  that  time.  This  broke  the  slate.  What 
should  be  done!  Maj.  Connelly,  Dr.  Allen  and 
others  who  had  been  elected  to  places,  were  in 
trouble.  So  it  was  agreed  to  send  James  T.  Cun- 
ningham to  Washington  to  see  Mr.  Lincoln,  and 


see  if  some  modification  of  Secretary  Stanton's 
order  could  not  be  made.  When  Mr.  Cunningham 
arrived  at  Washington  he  saw  Mr.  Lincoln  who 
had  never  even  seen  the  order  before.  Mr.  Lin- 
coln said :  "Well,  I  don't  want  to  cancel  my 
Secretary's  order,  but  I  will  write  to  Mr.  Stanton 
a  card  and  see  what  he  can  do  in  the  premises." 
Then  the  President  took  a  card  and  wrote  in  his 
concise  way : 
"•SECRETARY  OF  WAR: 

Admit  the  bearer,  Mr.  Cunningham,  at  once. 
He  is  an  old  and  tried  friend  of  mine.  He  will  not 
deviate  one  hair'sbreadth  from  the  truth.  Do  what 
he  wants  done,  if  possible.  A.  LINCOLN." 

Mr.  Stanton  promptly  wrote  to  Gov.  Yates  to 
waive  the  order  in  this  case,  which  he  was  delighted 
to  do. 

Mr.  Cunningham  was  a  proud  man  in  many  re- 
spects, although  plain.  Never  in  his  life  did  he 
seem  so  pleased  as  when  he  brought  this  card  home. 
His  cattle  and  his  lands  were  matters  of  triumph  as 
the  labor  of  his  hands  and  head,  but  they,  all  of 
them,  seemed  small  to  him  compared  with  this  en- 
dorsement by  the  greatest  man  on  earth,  as  he 
regarded  Mr.  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Cunningham  never  belonged  to  any  church 
or  society  of  any  kind,  but  was  a  liberal  donor  to 
Church  purposes,  giving  of  his  substance  freely. 
Not  tens  cr  hundreds,  but  thousands  of  dollars  for 
Church  purposes.  More  than  once  he  has  given 
$500  at  a  time  for  such  uses. 

Mr.  Cunningham's  children  by  the  first  marriage 
were,  in  the  order  named :  John,  William,  James, 
Mary  Jane  and  James  Harrison.  After  his  wife's 
death,  in  1849,  he  married  Sarah  E.  Hendricks, 
nee  Threlkeld.  By  this  marriage  Nancy  Taylor 
and  Elizabeth  C.  are  the  offspring. 

Mr.  Cunningham  was  the  Republican  candidate 
for  Congress  in  this  District,  when  Abraham  Lin- 
coln was  first  elected  President.  The  District  was 
overwhelmingly  Democratic  and  he  was  of  course 
defeated,  but  he  ran  1,000  votes  ahead  of  the 
Lincoln  ticket,  and  considering  the  high  party 
strife,  this  was  a  great  triumph,  and  showed  the 
people's  confidence  in  the  man. 

When  the  war  broke  out  the  21st  Illinois  In- 
fantry (Grant's  Regiment)  was  raised  at  Mat- 
toon,  and  organized  in  the  fair  ground.  The 


t. 


442 


COLES  COUNTY. 


soldiers  were  pouring  in  according  to  the  call,  but 
no  provisions  had  been  made  for  their  support. 
Then  Mr.  C.  telegraphed  to  Gov.  Yates  the  situa- 
tion, and  in  reply  the  Governor  said:  "Take  care 
of  the  soldiers."  So  Mr.  C.  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  Quartermaster,  and  took  care  of  the  regiment 
until  it  left  Mattoon.  This  was  an  odd,  irregular 
way  of  appointing  a  Quartermaster,  but  Mr.  C.'s 
accounts  were  audited  with  as  much  credit  as  if  his 
commission  had  been  on  parchment,  the  State  of 
Illinois  paying  his  bills  in  full.  Mr.  Cunningham 
died  June  26,  1863. 


OL.  JAMES  MONROE  was  born  in  GreenS-^' 
burg,  Ky.,  Jan.  4,  1832.  His  father,  Dr. 
Byrd  Monroe,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
was  born  at  Glasgow,  Oct.  8,  1807.  His  mother 
was  Margaret  Linder,  also  of  Kentucky.  On  his 
^mother's  side  he  was  relate/1  t&Jjt16  Underwoods  of 
that  State.  His  grand fatber^was  a  Virginian  and 
his  great-grandfather  was  Dr.  Alexander  Monroe, 
the  celebrated  Scotch  Professor  of  anatomy,  and 
medical  writer,  who  was  born  in  1732. 

Dr.  Byrd  Monroe  moved  from  Kentucky  to 
Charleston  in  1834,  when  his  son  James  was  but 
two  years  old,  and  here  he  was  brought  up  among 
pioneer  scenes  and  times,  and  his  schooling  was 
received  here,  his  father,  a  scholarly  man.  teaching 
him  Latin,  the  classics,  etc.,  giving  him  that  taste 
for  letters  and  literature  that  made  him  through 
life  a  great  reader  and  student.  He  also  received 
from  his  father,  who  was  rather  more  of  a  mercan- 
tile than  a  professional  man,  a  business  training, 
and  early  took  to  business  .pursuits,  in  which  he 
soon  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people, 
and  in  which  that  charity  and  public  spirit  with 
which  he  was  imbued,  became  manifest  and  con- 
spicuous. 

As  early  as  1854  he  had  charge  of  a  general 
store  in  Paradise,  at  that  time  the  country-village 
center  of  quite  a  scope  of  country.  It  was  while 
here,  as  a  young  business  man  of  spirit  and  promise, 
that  lie  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Mary  J. 
Cunningham,  daughter  of  Hon.  James  T.  Cun- 
ningham, which  ripened  into  an  ardent  love.  But 


the  course  of  true  love  never  did  run  absolutely 
smooth,  and  the  young  hero  in  embryo  was  re- 
jected as  a  suitor  for  the  hand'of  his  (at  that  time) 
only  daughter,  by  Mr.  Cunningham,  and,  disap- 
pointed, in  a  spirit  of  recklessness  natural  to  a  fiery 
and  adventurous  soul  like  his,  he  started  for  Cen- 
tral America,  at  that  time  the  scene  of  Gen.  Walker's 
dream  of  military  glory  and  power.  An  entry 
from  young  Monroe's  diary  will  serve  to  spice  this 
lover's  episode.  Under  date  of  Jan.  28,  1855,  he 
wrote :  "  Tuesday,  afloat  on  the  dark  and  turbu- 
lent waters  of  the  Ohio,  broken  in  health,  with 
nothing  to  make  existence  endurable;  all  the  bright 
and  glorious  visions  of  youthful  enjoyment  and 
happiness  crushed,  withered  and  dead ;  all  the  ties 
which  bound  me  to  life  severed  and  broken, 
I  am  leaving  home,  wishing,  hoping  never  to  re- 
turn to  it  again.  And,  oh!  if  this  be  so — if  beneath 
the  burning  sun  of  the  tropics  I  shall  find  a  name- 
less and  forgotten  grave,  grant  this  request,  oh, 
God,  I  ask  nothing  for  myself,  and  care  little,  hut 
grant  to  shield  her  from  all  harm,  to  guard  and 
protect  her  through  life;  suffer  no  dark  clouds  of 
sorrow  or  misfortune  to  sully  the  pure  horizon  of 
her  life,  or  separate  or  alienate  her  from  Thyself. 
May  she  remember  me  in  kindness,  and  suffer  us 
after  death,  purified  from  all  stains  of  earthly  sin 
or  corruption,  to  meet  again  in  that  world  where 
sorrow,  disappointment  and  sin  can  never  enter." 
But,  returning  to  Illinois,  restored  in  health  and 
heart-mended,  James  Monroe  again  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  this  time  as  one  of  the  first 
grain  merchants  in  Mattoon,  and  as  a  dry-goods 
merchant  and  partner  with  his  brother,  Byrd  Mon- 
roe, in  the  grocery  trade,  a  live,  active  business 
man.  And  Dec.  1,  1857,  James  Monroe  and 
Mary  J.  Cunningham  were  married.  They  had 
also  attached  themselves  to  the  Christian  Church; 
and  the  following  reference  thereto,  written  after- 
ward, when  as  Major  he  was  treading  the  red  field 
of  war,  reveals  something  of  the  spiritual  side  of 
his  brief,  stormy  life.  Writing  to  his  wife,  he  says : 
"  You  speak  in  your  last  of  the  Church,  etc.,  and 
ask  me  some  questions.  It  is  very  true  that  our 
connection  with  the  Church  was  very  pleasant,  and 
I  assure  you  I  do  not  regret  that  part  of  our  lives; 
but  really  one  has  but  little  time  in  the  field  to  think 


I 


COLES   COUNTY. 


443 


of  anything  but  our  business.  I  do  not  think  I 
am  growing  worse,  but  rather  better.  I  strive  to 
avoid  all  excess  and  to  improve  myself  every 
way."  He  was  also  one  of  the  early  Masons  of 
Mattoon. 

James  Monroe's  sincere  and  fervent  patriotism 
and  public  spirit  naturally  called  him  to  "early  par- 
ticipate more  or  less  in  politics  and  public  affairs, 
although  not  a  politician.  In  the  quadrangular 
contest  of  1860,  in  Illinois,  James  Monroe  was  the 
nominee  of  the  Bell  and  Everett  party  for  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  State,  and  the  following 
spring  was  elected  President  of  the  City  Council 
of  Mattoon.  But  this  was  in  the  wild  days  of  the 
spring  of  1861,  when  politics  was  chaotic — when,  in 
the  language  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  there  were  ''but 
two  parties,  patriots  and  traitors;"  and  in  a  few 
days,  as  the  echo  of  the  rebel  Beauregard'sguns  at 
Ft.  Suniter  was  heard  rolling  over  the  land  and 
thrilling  it,  under  Gov.  Yates'  call  of  the  16th  of 
April,  the  young  Major's  career  of  military  glory 
and  blood  began,  which  was  to  cover  his  name 
with  lustre,  and  shed  honor  upon  Mattoon  and 
Coles  County  in  the  service  of  his  proud  State  and 
the  country.  On  the  17th  of  April,  1861,  a  meet- 
ing was  held  at  Mattoon,  and  Co.  B,  7th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.  (Mattoon  Guards),  was  almost  immediately 
formed,  and  James  Monroe  elected  Captain.  The 
company  reached  Springfield  on  the  19th,  the  first 
one  outside  of  that  city  to  get  into  camp,  Col.  Cook, 
of  Springfield,  tendering  Company  A.  Soon  the 
7th  Infantry  was  hurried  to  Cairo,  where  its  ll  three 
months'[service  "  was  put  in,  and  then  in  Gen.  John 
Cook's  Brigade  of  Gen.  Paducah  Smith's  Division, 
under  Grant,  the  three  years'  service  of  the  regiment 
began.  Its  career  of  honorable  and  hard  service 
was  commenced  at  Ft.  Donelson,  Capt.  Monroe 
commanding  Co.  B  in  this  great  engagement. 
Col.  John  Cook,  commanding  the  brigade,  in  his 
official  report  to  Gen.  Smith,  made  special  mention 
of  the  bravery,  devotion  and  efficiency  of  the  7th 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  of  Capt.  Monroe  and  his 
Colonel. 

Capt.  Monroe  was  "  promoted  for  meritorious 
services  rendered  at  the  battle  of  Ft.  Donelson," 
and  was  commissioned  Major  to  date  from  March 
21,  1862.  As  Major  he  went  through  the  battle  of 


Pittsburg  Landing  or  Shiloh,  and  the  siege  of 
Corinth.  Maj.  Rowett,  commanding  the  7th 
Illinois,  at  Shiloh,  in  his  official  report  to  Col. 
Sweeney  commanding  the  3d  Brigade,  said :  "  I 
am  permitted  only  to  mention  the  name  of  Acting 
Major  Monroe,  who  gallantly  sustained  his  share  of 
the  command  of  the  regiment  during  the  whole 
engagement."  He  had  his  horse  shot,  and  was 
slightly  wounded.  After  Shiloh,  Maj.  Monroe 
wrote  to  his  wife :  "  If  I  believed  in  special  provi- 
dences, I  should  expect  to  be  killed  in  the  next 
battle.  Dearly  as  I  love  my  wife  and  babes,  I 
would  cheerfully,  willingly  give  up  my  compar- 
atively worthless  life  to  restore  to  their  friends  and 
their  country  even  one-tenth  of  the  noble  men 
who  so  gallantly  offered  up  their  lives  on  Sunday 
and  Monday." 

In  August,  1862,  the  123d  Illinois  Infantry  went 
into  camp  at  Mattoon,  and  September  5  the 
regiment  was  mustered  into  the  service,  James 
Monroe  having  been  elected  (virtually  unani- 
mously) Colonel.  Companies  A,  C,  D,  H,  1  and  K 
were  recruited  from  Coles  County.  Many  of  the 
men  had  known  Col.  Monroe  as  a  citizen,  and  all 
had  marked  and  gloried  in  his  soldierly  record  as 
Captain  and  Major. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  Col.  Monroe  left  Illi- 
nois for  the  front,  with  his  new  regiment,  and  was 
assigned  to  Terrill's  Brigade  of  Jackson's  Division, 
under  Buell,  and  without  ever  having  had  battalion 
-  drill,  started  on  the  march  to  Perry  ville,  Ky.,  after 
Bragg,  and  history  records  that  '•  the  123d  behaved 
with  great  gallantry,"  losing  in  less  than  one  month 
from  the  time  they  entered  the  service,  thirty-five 
killed,  119  wounded  and  thirty-five  missing,  and 
losing  both  brigade  and  division  commanders. 
Then,  under  command  of  Col.  Hall,  of  the  105th 
Ohio,  in  a  winter  campaign,  Col.  Monroe  chased  Gen. 
John  Morgan  through  Kentucky  and  Tennessee, 
finally  engaging  and  whipping  him  in  a  gallant  fight 
at  Milton,  Tenn.,  March  20,  1863.  This  detached 
and  independent  service,  frequently  performed  with 
his  own  regiment  alone  on  expeditions  and  scouts, 
fitted  commander  and  command  for  the  noted  serv- 
ice afterward  performed  by  the  First  Mounted  In- 
fantry Brigade  Jin  the  service,  and  the  first  com- 
mand to  secure  the  famed  Spencer  rifle 


t 


444 


COLES  COUNTY. 


In  the  early  spring  of  1863,  while  the  army  lay 
at  Murfreesboro,  organizing  for  the  Chattanooga 
campaign,  Col.  John  T.  Wilder,  the  hero  of  Mum- 
fordsville,  Ky.,  determined  to  organize  a  picked 
command  to  march  as  cavalry  and  fight  as  infantry, 
and  to  arm  them  with  the  Spencer  repeating  rifle. 
Accordingly  he  chose  the  17th  and  72d  Indiana 
and  the  92d,  98th  and  123d  Illinois  Regiments,  and 
with  the  18th  Indiana  Battery,  led  the  advance  of 
Gen.  J.  J.  Reynolds'  division  of  the  14th  Army 
Corps  through  Hoover's  Gap,  and  gaining  the 
name  of  the  "  Lightning  Brigade  "  through  a  gen- 
eral order  from  Gen.  Rosecrans;;  then  to  Manchester 
and  the  railroads  in  the  rear  of  Tallahoma,  Col. 
Monroe  being  charged  with  the  task  of  destroying 
the  bridge  over  Duck  River,  over  which  he  found 
a  division  of  Confederates  moving,  as  he  ap- 
proached with  his  regiment.  In  command  of  the 
123d  Illinois  and  17th  Indiana,  Col.  Monroe  also 
made  a  raid  west  to  Columbia  and  Center ville 
capturing  some  prisoners  and  hundreds  of  horses 
and  mules.  Then,  with  his  regiment,  Col.  Monroe 
led  Gen.  Hazen's  gallant  advance  on  Chattanooga; 
and  when  Crittenden  led  his  corps  to  Chicka- 
mauga  by  way  of  Ringgold  and  Dalton,  Col.  Mon- 
roe was  with  him,  and  then  opened  the  fight  at 
Alexander's  Bridge,  over  Chickaniauga  Creek,  and 
with  Wilder's  Brigade  harrassed  the  concentrating 
Confederate  hosts,  held  Longstreet's  opening  as- 
saults in  check,  and  finally,  with  their  deadly  kSpen- 
cer  rifles,  aided  Thomas  to  the  last  to  save  the 
army  from  rout  and  disaster  on  that  bloodiest  field 
of  the  war. 

Immediately  ivfter  Chickamauga  the  rebel  Gen- 
eral, Wheeler,  was  sent  to  cut  Thomas'  communi- 
cations north  of  the  Tennessee,  and  Col.  Monroe 
went  with  the  brigade  on  what  is  known  as  the 
"  Wheeler  Raid,"  and  fell  in  the  cruel  fight  at 
Farmington,  Tenn.,  under  Gen.  Crook,  Oct.  7, 
1863,  at  the  head  of  his  devoted  regiment. 

The  following  letters,  addressed  to  Col.  Monroe's 
wife,  form  only  a  fitting  close  to  this  brief  sketch 
of  a  brilliant  military  hero,  cut  down  early  in  what 
would  otherwise  have  been  a  marked  career  of  com- 
mand and  leadership: 

CINCINNATI,  OHIO,  Jan.  15,  1863. 
MY  BEAR  MADAM: 

Nothing  could  afford  me  greater  pleasure  than  to 


testify  my  high  appreciation  of  the  modesty,  gal- 
lantry and  soldierly  enterprise  of  the  late  Col. 
Monroe,  who  fell,  gloriously  leading  his  men  in  the 
battle  of  Farmington,  when  one  brigade  of  our 
cavalry  and  Wilder's  Mounted  Brigade  under  his 
command,  whipped  two  divisions  of  rebel  cavalry 
under  Gen.  Wheeler.  Gen.  Crook,  who  commanded 
our  troops,  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  cool- 
ness and  gallantry  of  Col.  Monroe  on  that  occasion. 
He  had  become  known  to  me  very  soon  after 
1  assumed  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, for  his  prudence,  sagacity  and  enterprise,  dis- 
tinguishing himself  during  the  stay  of  our  forces 
at  Murfreesboro,  in  an  expedition  in  the  direction 
of  Lebanon,  wherein,  with  a  small  body  of  picked 
men,  he  soundly  whipped  a  regiment  of  rebel  cav- 
alry, who  had  thought  to  cut  him  off. 

Very  truly  yours, 

W.  S.  ROSECKANS. 

NEW  ORLEANS,  LA.,  Feb.  26,  1864. 
MADAM: 

In  your  letter  to  Maj.-Gen.  Reynolds  dated  1st 
ult.,  you  ask  for  a  testimonial  as  to  services  of  Col. 
James  Monroe,  late  commanding  the  123d  Illinois 
Regiment.  As  it  was  our  pleasure  to  serve  with  him. 
for  several  months  during  the  war,  we  are  able  to  bear 
testimony  of  the  valuable  services  rendered  by  him. 
Col.  Monroe  commanded  the  123d  Regiment 
Illinois  Volunteers,  serving  in  the  4th  Division  of 
the  14th  Army  Corps  in  the  Department  of  the 
Cumberland,  during  the  campaign  of  1863,  in  Ten- 
nessee, Northern  Alabama  and  Georgia.  The  regi- 
ment formed  a  part  of  Wilder's  Mounted  Brigade 
of  Infantry,  which  became  famous  by  acts  of  mili- 
tary skill  and  daring.  This  brigade  was  the  only 
one  of  its  character  in  the  Department  of  the 
Cumberland.  Its  organization  was  effected  after 
much  discussion  as  to  the  merits  and  capacities  of 
officers  and  regiments.  It  was  determined  that  the 
gallant  Col.  Monroe,  with  his  no  less  gallant  officers 
'and  men,  should  form  a  part  of  this  corps  of  dis- 
tinction and  honor,  from  which  much  was  to  be 
expected.  Nor  was  the  selection  ever  regretted  by 
the  Division  Commander,  Maj.-Gen.  Reynolds, 
whose  judgment  dictated  the  choice. 

In  all  the  movements  of  the  division  this  brig- 
ade took  the  van,  and  in  every  achievement  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  it  was  among  the  fore- 
most in  the  conflict.  In  the  general  movement  from 
Murfreesboro  southward,  Reynolds'  Division  with 
Wilder's  men  in  the  advance,  secured  Hoover's  Gap 
by  a  bold  dash  and  a  hard  struggle.  Next,  with  a 
celerity  which  astonished  the  enemy,  they  appeared 
in  their  rear  at  Tallahoma,  and  contributed  much  in 
compelling  their  precipitate  evacuation  of  that 
stronghold.  After  a  short  rest  the  advance  upon 


T 


uFtiu.it:o«8 


COLES  COUNTY. 


447 


Chattanooga  was  determined  upon.  Again  this 
brigade  of  mounted  heroes  was  in  requisition. 
They  pressed  forward  over  the  mountains  and  sur- 
prised the  enemy  before  their  presence  was  sus- 
pected, or  even  dreamed  of.  Here  by  strategic 
threatening  they  held  the  enemy  in  suspense  and  un- 
certainty, until  the  main  force  of  the  army  had 
crossed  the  Tennessee  River  and  almost  secured 
position  in  rear  of  the  rebel  horde,  which  compelled 
another  flight. 

In  the  great  battle  of  Chickamauga  this  brigade 
was  again  in  the  advance,  and  gallantly  fought  the 
enemy  for  hours  before  the  engagement  became 
general,  suffering  heavy  loss  and  inflicting  no  less 
severe  punishment  than  they  received.  They  fought 
with  an  endurance  almost  unequaled  during  that 
protracted  conflict,  and  with  the  division  com- 
manded immediately  by  Gen.  Reynolds,  formed  a 
part  of  the  little  band  which  held  the  field  with  a 
stubbornness  that  resisted  every  shock,  even  after 
the  main  portion  of  the  army  had  yielded  to  the 
tempest  of  battle. 

The  partial  success  of  the  enemy  encouraged  him 
to  throw  forward  all  his  available  mounted  force  to 
harrass  the  country  and  disturb  our  communica- 
tions. Again  this  brigade  was  called  upon,  and 
nobly  did  they  respond  and  sustain  themselves. 
They  met  the  enemy  at  every  possible  position, 
fought  and  defeated  him,  foiling  him  in  his  efforts 
and  plans.  In  the  battle  of  Farmington,  Tenn., 
where  our  forces  fought  a  superior  strength  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry  and  artillery  and  defeated  them, 
Col.  Monroe  fell,  and  but  few  such  sacrifices  have 
been  made  upon  our  Nation's  altar. 

In  every  movement  of  this  famous  brigade,  Col. 
Monroe  contributed  much  in  earning  the  fame  to 
which  it  is  so  justly  entitled.  Selected  on  several  oc- 
casions to  take  command  of  special  expeditions,  his 
management  and  success  always  determined  the 
wisdom  of  the  choice.  Solicitous  for  the  comfort 
of  his  men  and  the  general  condition  of  his  com- 
mand, their  wants  were  always  supplied,  and  they 
were  always  ready  for  duty. 

As  a  soldier,  Col.  Monroe  was  faithful  and  fear- 
less. He  possessed  a  judgment  which  knew  no  flat- 
tery, a  patriotism  which  knew  no  compromise  with 

rebels. 

*.'»*» 

With  great  respect,  yours  truly, 

JOHN  LEVERING,  Maj.  and  A.  A.  Gen., 
Chief  of  Staff  to  Maj. -Gen.  Reynolds. 

'•  His  steed  is  dust, 

His  sword  is  rust;" 
But  live  his  name, 
And  glow  his  fame. 

When  thus  cut  down  in  the  pride  of  his  young 


manhood,  Col.  Monroe  left  two  children,  Margaret 
in  her  fifth  year,  and  Ruth,  only  a  little  more  than 
two  years  old.  Growing  to  womanhood,  Miss  Mar- 
garet was  married,  Feb.  14.  1883,  to  Mr.  Noble 
Gordon,  a  young  merchant  of  Metamora,  Ind.,  of 
standing  and  influence,  and,  on  the  9th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1  884,  Miss  Ruth  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Cor- 
bin  J.  Decker,  of  Vineland,  N.  J.,  at  present  surgeon 
in  the  United  States  Navy. 


ENRY  HAMILTON  CECIL,  a  substantial 
farmer  and  prominent  citizen  of  Pleasant 
Grove  Township,  is  the  son  of  Samuel  W. 
and  Kasiah  (Bryan)  Cecil,  and  was  born 
Feb.  15,  1826,  in  Mercer  County,  Ky.  Samuel  W. 
Cecil  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  where  he  was 
brought  up  to  the  shoemaker's  trade,  but  subse- 
quently engaged  in  farming.  When  a  young  man 
he  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  his  marriage  took 
place.  Mrs.  Cecil  was  born  in  Virginia,  but  her 
family  had  removed  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Cecil  remained  in  that  State 
until  1830,  and  then  removed  to  Putnam  County, 
Ind.,  making  that  place  his  home  until  1849.  At  that 
time  he  changed  his  residence  to  Davis  County,  Iowa, 
where  his  death  occurred  in  1870,  at  the  age  of 

»  O 

seventy-three.  His  wife  died  in  1  867,  and  was  like- 
wise seventy-three  years  old. 

The  family  of  Samuel  W.  Cecil  and  wife  con- 
sisted of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  attained  ma- 
turity. Their  record  is  as  follows:  William,  a 
farmer,  residing  in  Davis  County,  Iowa;  Harriet, 
the  wife  of  William  Vallandingham,  a  farmer,  also 
residing  in  Davis  County,  Iowa;  Henry  H.,  our 
subject;  Andrew,  a  farmer,  residing  in  Kansas; 
Jemima,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Joseph  Evans, 
a  farmer,  residing  in  Kansas;  Sally,  the  wife  of 
James  Wilcox,  a  farmer,  residing  in  Missouri  ;  John, 
a  farmer,  residing  in  Davis  County,  Iowa,  and 
Mary.  With  his  wife,  Mr.  Cecil  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  He  took  little  active  interest 
in  politics,  but  always  voted  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

Henry  Cecil  was  four  years  of  age  when  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Indiana.  He  passed  his  boyhood 


I 


f 


448 


COLES   COUNTY. 


and  youth  at  his  father's  home  in  that  State,  and  in 
1847  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah  Elizabeth  Rob- 
inson. Mrs.  Cecil  was  born  July  23,  1827,  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  is  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Lydia 
Robinson.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Cecil  purchased 
a  small  tract  of  land,  and  was  engaged  in  farming 
in  Indiana  until  1863.  He  then  came  to  Coles 
County,  111.,  and  during  the  first  year  was  occupied 
in  farming,  and  subsequently  purchased  a  sawmill, 
which  he  operated  two  years.  His  preferences, 
however,  inclined  toward  agriculture,  and  accord- 
ingly he  purchased  land  and  settled  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  His  estate  contains  130 
acres  of  well  cultivated  land,  with  good  improve- 
ments. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cecil  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
one  of  whom  died  in  childhood.  The  record  of  the 
remaining  five  is  as  follows:  Fannie,  the  wife  of 
John  Roberts;  Margaret  Jane,  the  wife  of  John 
Baker ;  Henry  H.  married  Miss  Hester  A.  Randel, 
of  this  county:  Mary,  the  wife  of  William  Adkin, 
and  Daniel  E.,  who  married  Miss  Lena  L.  Greene. 
Mrs.  Cecil  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  In 
politics  Mr.  Cecil  supports  the  Democratic  party. 

In  presenting  the  portraits  of  leading  and  repre- 
sentative citizens,  none  are  more  worthy  of  a  place 
than  that  of  Henry  H.  Cecil,  both  as  a  farmer  and 
a  leading  resident  of  his  township.  We  are  pleased 
to  give  as  a  companion  picture  that  of  his  esteemed 
companion.  Both  are  shown  on  a  preceding  page. 


J"~    T.  HANLEY,  a  native  of  the  Prairie  State, 
owns  and  occupies  a  comfortable  homestead 
in   Hutton   Township   on   section    11,    and 
since  his  residence  here  has  identified  himself 
- . 

thoroughly  with  the  interests  of  the  people  of  his 

township.  He  was  born  in  Edgar  County,  Sept. 
15,  1824,  and  is  a  descendant  of  excellent  Irish 
ancestry,  his  grandfather,  Samuel  Hanley,  having 
been  a  native  of  Ireland.  The  father  of  the  latter 
died  while  he  was  young,  and  when  about  fifteen 
years  old  he  ran  away  from  home,  determined  to 
try  his  fortunes  on  this  side  of  the  water.  He  had 
read  considerably  of  America,  and  without  bidding 
his  mother,  brothers  or  sisters  good-bye,  embarked 


on  a  sailing-vessel,  and  with  the  high  hopes  of 
youth,  made  the  tedious  voyage  from  Liverpool  to 
New  York.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  engaged  to  work  on  a  farm,  and  was  very 
successful  in  his  efforts  in  the  New  World. 

Samuel  Hanley  married  early  in  life,  his  bride 
being  Miss  Mary  Ripple,  and  they  settled  near 
Louisville,  Ky.,  where  young  Hanley  established  a 
distillery  and  remained  in  business  for  fifteen  years. 
He  finally  sold  out,  and  coming  to  this  State 
entered  forty  acres  of  land  at  $1.25  per  acre  in 
Edgar  County,  and  not  long  afterward  started  a 
distillery  there  also,  which  he  operated  in  con- 
nection with  farming  until  his  death.  He  departed 
from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly  labors  in  the  spring 
of  1852,  when  about  seventy-eight  years  of  age. 
His  wife  had  died  three  years  previously,  being 
seventy-five  years  old.  The  fifteen  children  born 
of  this  marriage  were  named  respectively,  Joseph, 
Matthew,  William,  Lyda,  Polly,  Sytha.  Michael, 
Anthony,  Samuel,  Ephraim,  John,  David,  Betsey, 
Sallie  and  Savilla.  Most  of  these  are  deceased. 

Joseph  Hanley,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
the  eldest  child  of  his  parents,  and  was  born  near 
Louisville,  Ky.,  June  9,  1803.  He  received  a  very 
limited  education,  and  upon  becoming  old  enough  to 
labor  declined  to  work  in  the  distillery  and  was 
allowed  to  confine  his  industry  to  the  farm.  Upon 
reaching  a  marriageable  age  he  chose  for  his  bride 
Miss  Sallie  Hendsley,  who  became  his  wife  when  a 
maiden  of  fifteen  years.  Soon  afterward  he  entered 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Edgar  County,  where  he 
lived  twelve  years,  then  selling  out  went  into  Pike 
County  and  entered  eighty  acres.  This  also  he 
sold  two  years  later,  and  after  buying  and  selling 
160  acres,  took  up  his  residence  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship, this  county,  in  the  spring  of  1836.  Here  he 
entered  first  eighty  acres  and  afterward  doubled 
his  landed  area,  and  proceeded  with  the  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  of  his  property  until  his 
death,  which  took  place  Jan.  11,  1880.  He  had 
been  a  worthy  and  esteemed  citizen,  and  a  member 
in  good  standing  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

The  young  wife  of  Joseph  Hanley  only  lived 
four  years  after  their  marriage,  dying  while  a 
resident  of  Edgar  County,  Oct.  4,  1828,  and  being 
only  nineteen  years  of  age.  She  possessed  many 


COLES   COUNTY. 


449 


lovable  qualities  and  was  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church.  There  were  born  of  this 
marriage  four  sons — AVilliam,  John  T.,  Samuel,  and 
a  babe  who  died  unnamed.  Mr.  Hanley,  in  1832, 
was  married  to  Miss  Sallie  Bowen,  and  of  this 
union  there  were  born  eight  children,  viz. :  Joshua, 
Jacob  R.,  Michael,  Stanley,  Mary  Ann,  David, 
George  and  Louisa.  The  mother  of  these  died  at 
the  home  of  her  husband  in  Hutton  Township  in 
May,  1862,  aged  forty-six  years.  She  was  a  lady 
of  many  excellent  qualities  and  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  The  third  marriage  of  Joseph 
Hanley  was  with  Miss  Nancy  Anderson,  and  took 
place  in  Hutton  Township,  Oct.  22,  1864.  The 
only  child  of  this  marriage  was  a  daughter,  Nancy, 
and  the  mother  a  few  days  after  her  birth  was 
taken  with  measles,  and  died  Oct.  22,  1865.  The 
fourth*  wife  of  Joseph  Hanley  was  formerly  Miss 
Mary  A.  Bates,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  April, 
1866.  Their  four  children  were  Joseph,  Arvilla. 
Marcus  C.  and  Dennis.  This  lady  is  still  living. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  during  his  boyhood  and  youth,  re- 
ceiving limited  school  advantages,  and  early  in  life 
became  useful  around  his  father's  homestead  and 
has  spent  but  few  idle  days  during  his  whole  life. 
After  reaching  his  majority  he  went  up  into  Grant 
County,  Wis.,  where  he  remained  twelve  years, 
during  the  summer  seasons,  and  spent  his  winters 
with  his  father.  He  was  married,  Jan  28,  1850,  to 
Miss  Nancy  E.,  daughter  of  John  and  Nellie 
Donelson,  who  was  born  May  26,  1831,  in  Penn- 
sylvania. Her  parents  were  natives  of  Scotland, 
and  her  father  was  eighty  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  The  mother  lived  to  be  nearly  as 
old. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanley  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  this  county, 
where  they  lived  one  year,  and  Mr.  H.  then  pur- 
chased 105  acres  now  included  in  his  present  farm. 
He  has  been  remarkably  prosperous,  and  is  the 
owner  of  640  acres,  comprising  the  home  farm,  be- 
sides twenty-five  acres  in  Edgar  County  and  forty 
on  section  12,  in  Hutton  Township.  His  residence 
is  a  fine  brick  structure  erected  in  1874.  The  farm 
is  situated  near  the  banks  of  the  Embarras  River, 
five  and  one-half  miles  east  of  Charleston.  Mr. 


Hanley  and  his  wife  have  no  children.  They  are 
members  in  good  standing  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  politically  our  subject  votes  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  He  has  given  much  attention  to 
diseases  of  horses,  and  for  the  last  thirty  years  has 
practiced  successfully  as  a  veterinary  surgeon. 


AMES  SHINN,  a  retired  farmer  residing  on 
section  1 3,  Lafayette  Township,  is  the  owner 
of  a  fine  estate,  containing  435  acres  of  land, 
all  of  which  is  well  cultivated  and  improve,}. 
It  is  divided  into  two  farms,  which  are  among  the 
best  in  the  county.  Mr.  Shinn  was  born  Nov.  10, 
1825,  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son 
of  Ezra  and  Anna  (Lane)  Shinn.  His  grandfather, 
likewise  James  Shinn,  was  a  native  of  Scotland, 
emigrating  to  the  United  States  when  a  boy,  and 
settling  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
both  the  lumber  and  real-estate  business.  He  was 
possessed  of  great  shrewdness  and  energy,  and  met 
with  remarkable  success,  becoming  a  very  wealthy 
man.  At  his  death  he  left  each  of  his  children  a 
fortune  of  $60,000. 

Ezra  Shinn  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  after  he 
had  attained  manhood  he  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Shinn,  Kissarn  &  Cooper,  a  large  mercantile 
house  in  Philadelphia.  He  left  his  business  to  serve 
in  the  War  of  1812,  and  his  partners  taking  advan- 
tage of  his  absence,  sold  out  and  embezzled  the 
proceeds.  Mr.  Shinn  was  an  unusually  honorable 
man  in  business  dealings,  which  led  him  to  place 
too  much  confidence  in  others.  He  returned  from 
the  War  to  find  himself  a  poor  man,  stripped  of  ev- 
everything.  At  that  time  he  found  a  true  friend, 
Stephen  Gerard,  who  allowed  Mr.  Shinn  to  use  his 
name  in  order  to  buy  goods,  and  through  this  kindly 
assistance  he  was  enabled  to  settle  up  his  business 
affairs  and  pay  off  all  the  debts  of  the  firm.  After 
this  disastrous  experience  he  resolved  to  come 
West,  and  accordingly  moved  to  Ohio.  The  family 
resided  there  until  about  the  year  1851. 

After  removing  West  Mr.  Shinn  never  under- 
took mercantile  business  again,  but  engaged  in 
farming.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  although 
he  was  nearly  seventy-seven  years  of  age,  he 
•» 


450 


COLES   COUNTY. 


evinced  his  loyalty  by  going  to  Indianapolis  and 
offering  his  services  once  more  in  defense  of  his 
country,  but  his  friends  interfered  to  prevent  the 
execution  of  this  generous  and  patriotic  impulse. 
Mr.  Shinn  possessed  a  vigorous  physique,  and  at  that 
age  was  hale  and  hearty  in  appearance,  looking  much 
younger  than  his  years.  His  death  occurred  in 
1 864,  after  an  illness  of  four  days.  His  wife,  whom 
he  married  in  Ohio,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
and  died  in  1854.  Their  family  consisted  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  five  are  now  living — Ben- 
jamin, James,  Lavina,  Ezra  W.  and  Thomas.  La- 
vina  became  the  wife  of  William  Kyle,  and  resides 
in  Edinburg,  Ind. ;  Ezra  VV.  is  a  banker,  residing 
in  Lathrop,  Mo.,  and  Thomas  is  a  farmer,  also  re- 
siding in  Missouri. 

James  Shinn  passed  his  early  life  in  his  native 
State,  and  was  married  in  1847,  in  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  to  Miss  Eliza  Ann  Barklow.  Mrs.  Shinu  is 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Anna  (Lane)  Bark- 
low,  and  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  Oct.  18, 
1828.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Shinn  was  engaged 
in  farming  in  Ohio  until  1851,  and  then  removed 
to  Bartholomew  County,  Ind.,  where  he  owned 
land.  He  carried  on  a  successful  agricultural  business 
there  until  1865,  when  he  sold  out  his  interests  and 
came  to  Coles  County,  111.,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  settled  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives 
in  the  early  autumn  of  1865.  In  the  various 
States  in  which  he  has  lived  he  has  given  his  atten- 
tion exclusively  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  has 
been  to  a  marked  degree  successful  in  his  business 
enterprises.  He  is  now  quite  advanced  in  years, 
and  desirous  of  rest  and  relief  from  the  active  du- 
ties of  the  farm,  has  rented  his  land,  and  is  passing 
the  closing  years  of  his  life  in  retirement  and  ease. 
He  commenced  life  without  a  dollar,  but  his  en- 
ergy has  been  crowned  with  success,  and  he  has 
acquired  a  fine  property,  enabling  him  to  give  his 
children  $30,000  to  aid  them  in  beginning  life. 
During  his  residence  in  Illinois  he  has  been  very 
successful  in  dealing  in  real  estate. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Shinn  have  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren: Anna  C.,  the  wife  of  George  East,  a  farmer 
residing  in  Wilson  County,  Kan.;  Aaron,  a  farmer 
living  in  Lafayette  Township,  and  George,  a  far- 
mer, residing  in  Humbolt  Township.  Mr.  Shinn  is 


fortunate  in  having  his  two  sons  near  him  in  his  de- 
clining years.  He  is  universally  honorable  in  all 
the  relations  of  life,  and  has  won  the  regard  of  all 
who  know  him,  both  in  business  and  social  circles. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  but  is  liberal  toward  those  who  differ 
from  him  in  their  views.  He  has  never  aspired  to 
office,  having  no  taste  for  public  life,  and  being  en- 
grossed in  his  own  business  affairs.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Presb37terian  Church,  but  Mr.  Shinn 
has  never  connected  himself  with  any  religious 
body,  although  he  is  opposed  to  none. 


RVIN  JOHNSON  has  been  a  resident  of  North 
Okaw  Township  for  over  twenty  years,  flaring 
which  time  he  has  bnilt  up  one  of  the  finest 
homesteads  within  its  limits.  His  property  includes 
320  acres  of  valuable  land,  highly  cultivated,  and 
supplied  with  a  handsome  and  substantial  set  of 
frame  buildings.  The  residence  stands  on  a  gentle 
elevation,  some  distance  from  the  roadside,  and 
invariably  attracts  the  eye  of  the  passing  traveler, 
surrounded  as  it  is  by  beautiful  shade  trees,  with 
well-kept  grounds  and  the  evidences  of  a  refined 
and  cultivated  taste.  A  beautiful  grove  occupies 
a  portion  of  the  premises,  and  the  whole  comprises 
a  model  country  estate,  evidently  under  the  super- 
vision of  a  proprietor  whose  taste  and  good  judg- 
ment are  apparent  in  every  detail. 

Mr.  Johnson  spent  his  childhood  and  youth  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  in  County  Ferman- 
agh, Ireland,  where  his  birth  took  place  on  the  26th 
of  March,  1832.  He  remained  in' his  native  coun- 
try with  his  parents  until  the  spring  of  1850,  when 
they  all  emigrated  to  the  United  .States,  and  pro- 
ceeding at  once  to  Moultrie  County,  111.,  located 
upon  a  tract  of  land  and  engaged  in  farming.  Our 
subject  had  been  fairly  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  county,  and  remained  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage,  which  took  place  on  New  Year's 
Day,  1863.  The  maiden  of  his  choice  was  Miss  C. 
A.  M.  Kleiver,  who  was  born  in  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  Jan.  12,  1825,  and  was  the  daughter  of  G. 
M.  and  Elizabeth  (Neibarger)  Kleiver,  natives  re- 


t 


COLES    COUNTY. 


451 


spectively  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  The 
young  people  commenced  life  together  on  the  land 
which  our  subject  had  previously  purchased  from 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  which  forms  a 
part  of  his  present  homestead.  lie  operated  this  in 
company  with  his  four  brothers — William,  John, 
James  and  Frederick.  They  continued  together 
three  years  after  his  marriage,  and  then  effected  a 
division  of  the  property,  since  which  time  our  sub- 
ject has  carried  on  fanning  and  stock-raising  by 
himself. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  been  greatly  prospered,  and 
wisely  invested  his  surplus  capital  in  more  real  es- 
tate, which  could  not  be  stolen  by  a  bank  cashier. 
The  laud  is  mostly  laid  off  in  forty-acre  lots,  and 
of  late  years  has  been  devoted  almost  entirely  to 
stock  and  grain  raising.  He  feeds  large  numbers 
of  animals  annually,  and  ships  principally  to  Chi- 
cago. He  has  made  a  specialty  of  Poland-China 
hogs,  and  has  abundantly  proved  that  fine  stock  is 
far  more  profitable  than  the  common  grades.  Mr. 
Johnson  has  served  his  township  several  years  as 
School  Director,  and  politically  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party,  which  he  has  cordially  supported 
since  the  time  of  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  His  estimable  wife  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  at  Quinn  Chapel.  Their  only  child 
died  in  infancy. 

George  M.  Kleiver,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Johnson, 
was  born  in  Northumberland  Count}',  Pa.,  Jan.  7, 
1789,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  a  native  of  Shenan- 
doah  County,  Va.,  was  born  November  21,  of  the 
same  year.  They  were  married  in  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  Jan.  30,  1817.  Mr.  K.  owned  land  in  Ohio, 
which  he  sold  in  1856,  preparatory  to  coming  to 
Illinois.  After  reaching  this  State,  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Moultrie  County,  where  he  carried  on 
fanning  until  his  death,  which  took  place  Feb.  1, 
1864.  His  widow  survived  until  Nov.  25,  1879. 
Both  were  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Sullivan.  The 
parental  household  included  nine  children,  namely, 
Rebecca,  Mrs.  O.  P.  Powers,  of  Dresden,  Ohio; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Samuel  McKinney,  of  Licking- 
County,  Ohio;  Henry,  who  died  in  infancy;  Eve- 
lina, the  wife  of  Thomas  Leggitt,  of  Kansas;  Eliza- 
beth S.,  Mrs.  Barrick,  of  Licking  County,  Ohio; 


C.  A.  M.,  the  wife  of  our  subject;  Catherine,  Mrs. 
V.  C.  Corkins;  Willie  J.  and  George  J. 

The  paternal  grandparents,  Henry  and  Margaret 
Kleiver,  were  natives  of  Germany,  and.  emigrating 
to  America,  were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
Pennsylvania,  whence  they  moved  to -Ohio,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Their 
children,  all  now  deceased,  were  Henry,  Frederick, 
George  M.,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Mary  and 
Margaret. 


EORGE  L.  MILLER  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
and  stock-raiser,  residing  on  section  23, 
North  Okaw  Township.  He  was  born  in  Pleas- 
ant Grove  Township  in  this  county,  Oct.  27,  1852, 
and  is  the  eldest  child  of  James  L.  F.  and  Rachel 
E.  (Gray)  Miller,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  the  latter  of  Illinois.  His  paternal  grandpar- 
ents, George  and  Elizabeth  (Antle)  Miller,  were 
natives  of  Kentucky,  and  removed  at  a  very  early 
day  to  Illinois,  where  they  were  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising.  His  maternal  grandparents 
were  Richard  and  Rachel  (Pugh)  Gray,  who  were 
likewise  natives  of  Kentucky  and  pioneers  of  this 
State. 

James  Miller  was  a  child  when  his  parents  moved 
to  Illinois,  and  grew  up  with  the  country  in  the 
pioneer  days.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  in 
Pleasant  Grove  Township,  where  he  now  resides  on 
the  same  estate  which  he  then  purchased,  and1  car- 
ries on  an  extensive  business  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising. 

George  L.  Miller  received  a  good  education  at 
the  common  schools,  and  attended  Lee's  Academy 
at  Loxa  for  two  years.  He  remained  at  home  en- 
gaged in  farming,  associated  with  his  father  and 
brothers,  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-six, 
when  his  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Isabel  Smith  took 
place,  Oct.  31,  1878.  Mrs.  Miller  was  born  Feb.  15, 
1850,  in  this  county,  in  one  of  the  first  log  houses 
in  North  Okaw  Township,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
William  H.  and  Mary  (Osborn)  Smith.  Her  par- 
ents were  among  the  pioneers  of  this  count}7.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Miller  settled  on  a  tract  of  almost 
wild  land  located  on  section  23,  North  Okaw  Town- , 


T 


452 


COLES   COUNTY. 


ship,  and  by  industry  "and  close  application  to  work 
has  succeeded  in  bringingjjhis  farm.Jwhichjcontains 
240  acres,  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  His  cot- 
tage residence,  a  view  of  which  is  given  in  connec- 
tion with  this  sketch,  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
county,  and  his  other  farm  buildings  are  corres- 
pondingly appropriate  and  well  appointed.  He  also 
owns  forty Jacres.of  timber  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  had  a  family  of  five  children 
born  to  them — Allie,  James  Walter  aud  Harrison 
S.  (twins),  E.  Howard,  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Harrison  S.  is  also  dead.  Mrs.  Miller  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Mattoon.  Mr.  Miller  is  one  of  the  rising  young 
men  of  the  county.  He  is  a  warm  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party,  but  does  not  seek  political  pre- 
ferment and  has  never  held  office. 


RS.  P.  A.  TROWER  is  the  widow  of  the 
late  Hon.  T.  B.  Trower,  and  one  of  the  in- 
fluential residents  of  Charleston.  Mrs. 
Trower  is  the  daughter  of  Judge  Jacob  and 
Siuia  (Clark)  Cutler.  Her  grandfather,  Benjamin 
Cutler,  was  one  of  three  brothers,  who  came  from 
England  to  America  in  the  old  Colonial  days,  the 
other  brothers  being  John  and  Jacob  Cutler.  John 
came  West,  and  no  tidings  ever  returned  of  him ; 
whether  he  met  his  death  at  the  hand  of  some 
treacherous  Indian  foe,  was  slain  in  battle,  or  per- 
ished on  the  plains,  was  never  known.  Jacob  settled 
in  Virginia,  and  Benjamin  in  Maryland,  where  he 
became  the  owner  of  thirty  square  miles  of  land. 
He  subsequently  removed  to  Virginia,  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  there.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  five  children. 

Judge  Cutler  was  born  in  Maryland,  June  9, 
1770.  His  wife,  Sinia  Clark,  was  born  July  1.  1795. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Nancy  (Fitz- 
patrick)  Clark,  the  former  a  native  of  England  and 
the  latter  of  Scotland.  They  came  to  America  in 
early  life,  and  their  marriage  took  place  in  Vir- 
ginia. Subsequently  they  removed  to  Kentucky 
and  thence  to  Indiana,  where  Mr.  Clark  carried  on 
an  extensive  farming  business.  They  passed  the 


remainder  of  their  lives  in  that  State,  and  reared  a 
family  of  eight  children,  none  of  whom  are  now 
living.  Judge  Cutler  removed  from  Maryland  to 
Virginia,  thence  to  Kentucky  and  thence  to  Indi- 
ana. He  was  there  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  was  for  many  years  Judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court.  He  possessed  great  executive  ability,  and 
was  successful  in  all  the  enterprises  he  undertook. 
He  invested  largely  in  real  estate  and  became  the 
owner  of  thousands  of  acres  of  land.  Fortune 
smiled  upon  his  pathwa}',  at  every  step  enabling 
him  to  amass  great  wealth.  But  he  regarded  him- 
self as  a  steward,  who  must  give  an  account  of  his 
possessions.  He  was  generous  to  his  friends  and  be- 
nevolent toward  the  poor.  He  was  warmly  inter- 
ested in  promoting  the  spiritual  and  material  wel- 
fare of  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  both 
himself  and  his  wife  were  prominent  members.  In 
business  and  social  circles  he  was  respected  and  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  him. 

Judge  Cutler  came  to  Illinois  in  1828,  and  for  a 
time  resided  in  Edgar  County,  and  thence  removed 
to  Shelbyville.  His  famity  consisted  of  nine  chil- 
dren, four  ol  whom  are  still  living,  as  follows: 
Nancy,  the  wife  of  William  Shaw,  a  resident  of 
Missouri;  Polly  Ann,  now  Mrs.  Trower,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;  Otway,  a  resident  of  Ft.  Madison, 
Iowa,  and  Rebecca,  now  Mrs.  Barlow  Espy,  like- 
wise a  resident  of  Ft.  Madison,  Iowa.  Her  husband 
was  killed  at  Chickamauga  during  the  Civil  War. 
The  lives  of  all  the  children  have  been  crowned 
with  prosperity  and  success.  The  death  of  Judge 
Cutler  occurred  March  5,  1863,  and  that  of  his 
widow  Nov.  3,  1872. 

Mrs.  Trower's  marriage  to  Dr.  T.  B.  Trower  took 
place  Dec.  21,  1833,  at  Shelby ville,  Shelby  Co.,  111. 
Dr.  Trower  was  born  Nov.  15,  1809,  in  Albermarle, 
Va.,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  in  Bloomfield,  Ky.,  with  Drs. 
Beamiss  and  Merryfield,  spending  three  years  under 
their  instructions.  In  1830,  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  practiced  medicine  six  years  in  Shelbyville. 
He  then  removed  to  Charleston,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  three  years,  after  which 
he  resumed  his  profession.  His  practice  was  large 
and  lucrative,  extending  throughout  this  county 
and  into  several  others.  He  was  a  member  of  the 


I 


COLES   COUNTY. 


453 


Esculapian  Medical  Society  and  the  Wabash  Valley 
and  State  Medical  Societies.  He  was  industrious 
and  untiring  in  the  discharge  of  his  professional 
duties,  and  acquired  a  large  fortune.  His  mental 
endowments  were  of  a  high  order,  and  skill  in  his 
profession  was  united  with  rare  business  abilities. 
He  was  President  of  the  Moultrie  County  Bank,  of 
Sullivan,  111.,  and  Vice  President  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Charleston. 

During  his  residence  in  Shelbyville,  Dr.  T.  rep- 
resented the  connty  in  the  State  Legislature,  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  1847, 
and  likewise  represented  Coles  County  in  the  Legis- 
lature one  year.  On  coming  to  Charleston  he  pur- 
chased a  house  and  three  lots  on  the  northeast  side 
of  the  court-house  square,  and  erected  a  brick  block, 
which  is  now  used  for  the  post-office,  and  also  his 
fine  brick  residence  on  the  block  adjoining.  He  was 
also  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  an  extensive  land-owner.  He 
possessed  a  broad  and  liberal  spirit,  and  through- 
out life  his  habits  were  temperate  almost  to  ab- 
stemiousness. He  never  made  use  of  tobacco  in  any 
form,  nor  drank  any  spirituous  liquor,  and  was  never 
known  to  be  idle.  Such  a  life  is  more  eloquent 
than  a  thousand  temperance  lectures.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  but  his  gener- 
osity in  supporting  the  cause  of  Christ  was  not 
limited  by  a  narrow  denominational  spirit.  He  be- 
longed to  the  Brotherhood  of  Christ,  and  wherever 
the  Master's  work  was  to  be  done,  he  was  ready 
with  a  helping  hand.  He  donated  a  lot,  and  gave 
$1,000  toward  the  erection  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  was  ever  generous  in  affording  aid  to  all  worth}' 
objects.  He  died  April  15,  1878. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Trower  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows: 
Amerial,  the  wife  of  Dr.  L.  L.  Silverthorn,  a  resi- 
dent of  Charleston;  Sinia,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Norfolk, 
a  resident  of  Charleston,  is  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren— Mary  and  Thomas;  Sally,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Sayer,  a  resident  of  Chicago,  is  the  mother  of  two 
sons — Rockwell  and  Edward ;  and  Dr.  Xavier  B.,  a 
resident  of  Pana,  Christian  Co.,  111.,  married  Miss 
Annie  Pottenger.  of  Kentucky. 

Mrs.  Trower  is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement, 
and  also  bears  the  responsibility  of  possessing  great 


riches.  She  is  the  owner  of  several  farms  in  Coles 
and  Sullivan  Counties,  a  block  of  buildings  in 
Charleston,  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First  National 
Bank,  and  owns  property  in  Chicago. 


-*- 


R.  SMITH  TAYLOR,  a  physician  of  good 
repute,  and  who  has  been  a  resident  of 
North  Okaw  Township  since  the  fall  of 
1860,  is  an  extensive  land-owner  and  has 
carried  on  stock-farming  with  more  than  ordinary 
success.  His  property  includes  478  acres  in  the 
home  farm,  212  acres  on  section  31,  in  North  Okaw 
Township,  and  forty-five  acres  on  section  13.  The 
family  residence  is  a  fine  frame  structure,  which 
was  put  up  after  the  close  of  the  war.  The  barn  is 
substantial  and  commodious,  and  in  ordinary  sea- 
sons the  entire  area  of  land  is  generously  supplied 
with  good  water.  Dr.  Taylor  has  always  been  fond 
of  country  life,  and  would  not  exchange  it  for  the 
King's  palace  in  a  crowded  city.  He  has  been 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  North  Okaw  Township 
since  coming  here,  representing  it  on  the  County  • 
Board  of  Supervisors  and  serving  it  as  Assessor. 
He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Prank  Pierce 
in  1852,  and  since  then  has  been  a  stanch  advocate 
of  Democratic  principles. 

The  first  recollections  of  our  subject  are  of  his 
father's  farm  in  Niagara  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light,  Aug.  20,  1829. 
His  family  was  well  known  in  that  section.  His 
paternal  grandparents  were  natives  of  New  Jersey, 
where  they  were  reared  and  married,  and  whence 
they  afterward  removed  to  New  York  State.  The 
Taylors  are  of  German  ancestry.  The  grand- 
father was  an  extensive  land-owner  in  New  York 
State,  where  he  spent  his  last  years.  His  family 
included  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew  to  mature  years  and  were  married.  The  sons 
were  named  respectively,  William,  Christopher, 
Henry,  Jacob  and  Jeromus.  The  names  of  the 
daughters  are  not  known  to  any  of  the  living  de- 
scendants. 

Jeromus  Taylor,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
the  fourth  child  of  his  parents  and  was  born  in 
New  Jersey.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 


i 


454 


COLES    COUNTY. 


township,  and  then  going  into  Niagara  County,  N. 
Y.,  entered  a  tract- of  land  in  the  Holland  Purchase, 
where  he  made  considerable  improvement,  and  after 
a  few  years  sold  out  and  purchased  on  another  sec- 
tion in  ttie  same  county.  This  also  he  sold  after  a 
few  years,  and  removing  to  Delaware  County, 
Ohio,  purchased  land  in  the  Military  Tract.  There 
he  established  a  comfortable  homestead,  upon  which 
he  remained  the  balance  of  his  days.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Niagara  County,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Wall,  who 
became  the  mother  of  four  children — Jacob,  John, 
Mary  A.  and  Elizabeth,  of  whom  Jacob  is  the  only 
survivor.  The  mother  died  in  New  York. 

The  second  wife  of  Jeromus  Taylor  was  formerly 
Miss  Eliza  Smith,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  Ni- 
agara Count}',  N.  Y.,  and  -who  became  the  mother  of 
eleven  children,  namely,  George,  Henry,  Smith  of 
our  sketch,  Adam,  Nancy  J.,  Charles,  Susanna, 
Eliza,  Elizabeth,  Sarah  and  Jeromus.  With  the 
ezception  of  one  all  grew  to  mature  years  and  were 
married.  The  mother  died  in  the  spring  of  1885, 
in  Marion  County,  Mo.  She  was  a  highly  esteemed 
lady  and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Young  Taylor  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion and  remained  a  member  of  the  parental  house- 
hold until  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  was  but  three 
years  old  when  his  parents  removed  from  New 
York  to  Ohio.  After  starting  out  for  himself  he 
was  employed  on  a  farm  at  $12  per  month  during 
the  summer  seasons,  and  in  the  winter  made  him- 
self useful  in  the  shop  of  a  blacksmith  in  Niagara 
County,  N.  Y.  For  his  services  at  the  latter  place 
he  was  to  receive  $6  per  month,  but  only  succeeded 
in  obtaining  $13  for  six  mouths.  The  summer  fol- 
lowing he  worked  six  months  on  a  farm  at  $12.50 
per  montl),  and  in  the  fall  returned  to  his  parents 
in  Ohio. 

The  marriage  of  Smith  Taylor  and  Miss  Lucinda 
Smith  took  place  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  in  1851. 
Mrs.  Taylor  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Silas  Smith.  After  his 
marriage  our  subject  took  up  the  study  of  medicine 
under  the  tutelage  of  his  father-in-law,  and  two 
years  later  commenced  practice  in  Delaware  County, 
Ohio.  After  a  few  months  he  removed  to  Middle- 
town,  Champaign  County,  and  thence  two  years 
later  to  Grove  City,  Frankliii  County.  He  then 


crossed  the  Mississippi,  and  locating  in  Scotland 
County.  Mo.,  took  possession  of  a  tract  of  land  and 
carried  on  farming  there  in  connection  with  his 
practice  until  the  -spring  of  1856.  He  then  re- 
crossed  the  Father  of  Waters  and  purchased  160 
acres  of  railroad  land  in  Moultrie  County,  this 
State,  and  during  the  period  of  his  four  years' 
residence  upon  this,  turned  his  attention  entirely 
to  agriculture. 

Dr.  Taylor  became  a  resident  of  North  Okaw 
Township  in  1  860,  and  for  several  years  carried  on 
farming  and  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  then 
purchased  his  present  farm,  and  for  several  years 
thereafter  was  entirely  interested  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  giving  but  little  attention  to  his  profession. 
He  met  with  a  severe  affliction  by  the  death  of  his 
wife,  on  the  5th  of  March,  1874.  Mrs.  Taylor  was 
a  lady  of  many  estimable  qualities,  a  faithful  and 
affectionate  wife  and  mother,  and  her  death  was 
deeph'  mourned  by  her  family  and  friends.  Their 
nine  children  are  recorded  as  follows:  Mary  E., 
the  wife  of  William  Myers,  is  a  resident  of  Coles 
County;  Jeromus  L.  married  Miss  Rosa  Baley,  and 
is  engaged  in  farming  in  this  county;  Samantha 
was  married  to  Leonidas  H.  Ellison,  of  North  Okaw 
Township;  Jonah  W.  is  at  home  with  his  father; 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  William  Deckard,  who  is 
farming  in  Paradise  Township;  Charles  is  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  in  this  county;  George  and 
Walter  S.  are  at  home;  Eliza  died  in  infancy.  The 
present  wife  of  our  subject  was  formerly  Mrs.  Ma- 
tilda Brannon,  the  daughter  of  8impsoii  Kinnery, 
and  widow  of  Thomas  Branuon,  who  was  formerly 
a  resident  of  Cumberland  County,  111. 


OHN  G.  SLATER,  a  prominent  resident  of 
the  northeastern  part  of  Coles  County,  owns 
a  good  farm  on  section  21,  in  East  Oakland 
Township,  where  he  located  in  the  fall  of 
1869.  His  property  embraces  350  acres  of  finely- 
cultivated  land,  a  commodious  brick  residence, 
erected  in  1882,  handsome  and  convenient  out- 
buildings, and  a  good  assortment  of  live-stock.  He 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


455 


has  displayed  excellent  judgment  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  farming  operations,  has  been  wise  in 
his  investments,  and  uniformly  successful  in  the 
various  branches  of  agriculture  in  which  .he  has 
been  largely  interested. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Loudoun  County,  Ya., 
where  his  birth  took  place  Aug.  11,  1830.  His 
parents,  George  and  Sarah  (Shu maker)  Slater,  were 
natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  both  born  in 
1791.  They  died  in  their  native  State,  George 
Slater  in  1865,  and  his  wife,  Sarah,  in  1881.  Their 
marriage  took  place  in  1829.  The  children  of  the 
parental  household  were  John  G.,  James  W., 
Thomas  E.,  Ann  Eliza,  who  is  now  deceased,  and 
Luther,  who  died  in  infancy.  An  infant  died  un- 
named. 

The  father  of  our  subject  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  and  upon  reaching 
manhood  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  followed 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Both  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  in  which 
the  elder  Slater  officiated  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  many  years.  His  farm  was  car- 
ried on  by  slave  labor,  as  he  had  been  born  and 
reared  amid  the  surroundings  of  the  peculiar  insti- 
tution, and  h'ad  never  questioned  its  justice  and 
propriety.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  of 
French  and  German  ancestry,  but  the  Slaters  were 
of  pure  German  blood. 

John  G.  Slater  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  on 
the  farm  of  his  father  in  Virginia,  and  after  reach- 
ing manhood  married  a  lady  of  his  own  county, 
Miss  Ann  E.  Ruse,  their  union  taking  place  Dec. 
9,  1852,  Rev.  Martin,  of  the  German  Reform 
Church,  officiating.  Mrs.  Slater  was  born  July  5, 
1832,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Day)  Ruse,  also  natives  of  Loudouu  County,  Va., 
where  they  spent  the  early  part  of  their  life,  and 
whence  they  finally  removed  to  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  where  the  death  of  John  Ruse  occurred 
Sept.  26,  1884.  The  mother  is  still  living  there. 
They  were  among  the  most  highly  respected  peo- 
ple of  the  agricultural  districts,  and  the  mother  be- 
longed to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
R.  was  broad  and  liberal  in  his  view.-.,  a  free- thinker 
and  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence. 
Their  family  consisted  of  six  children,  namely, 


Mary  J.,  A.  E.,  Edward  S.,  Julia,  John  and 
Lydia  C. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slater  after  their  marriage  contin- 
ued in  their  native  State  until  1861,  and  then  came 
to  Edgar  County,  111.,  locating  in  Grand  View 
Township,  whence  they  removed  a  year  later  to 
Embarras  Township,  of  which  they  remained  resi- 
dents until  the  fall  of  1869.  Mr.  Slater  then  trans- 
ferred his  citizenship  to  this  county,  where  he  has 
since  remained.  Politically,  he  is  a  true-blue  Re- 
publican, and  during  the  late  war  illustrated  his 
principles  in  the  most  forcible  manner  of  which  he 
was  capable,,  by  enlisting  as  a  Union  soldier,  be- 
coming a  member  of  Co.  B.,  54th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He 
was  content  to  serve  in  the  capacity  of  a  private 
until  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  army,  en- 
during bravely  and  cheerfully  the  vicissitudes  of 
war  for  the  sake  of  the  result,  in  which  he  had  faith 
from  the  very  first.  He  was  in  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi Department,  and  was  at  Little  Rock  and  Ft. 
Smith,  Ark.,  and  though  quite  ill  at. one  time,  stur- 
dily refused  to  be  placed  in  the  hospital,  and  finally 
triumphed  over  his  ailments.  At  Ft.  Smith  he  was 
detailed  as  Clerk  in  the  Freedman's  Bureau,  in 
which  capacity  he  subsequently  served  until  the 
regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the  service. 

The  children  of  our  subject  and  wife,  eleven  in 
number,  are  recorded  as  follows:  Rosa  E.  is  the 
wife  of  J.  W.  Stokes,  of  Oakland  ;  Edgar  F.  mar- 
ried Miss  Laura  Braden,  and  is  located  iri  East 
Oakland  Township;  James  S.  married  Elizabeth 
Boggs;  Julius  S.  married  Ella  Unangst,  and  is  in 
Ka,nsas;  John  G.,  Owen,  Charles  W.,  Paul  A.  and 
Thomas  D.  (twins),  and  Luther  A.  are  at  home; 
Grant  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Slater  has  been  prominently  connected  with 
local  affairs  since  coming  to  this  township,  and  in 
1887  was  elected  to  represent  East  Oakland  Town- 
ship on  the  Board  of  Supervisors  by  a  majority  of 
ninety-one  ou  the  Republican  ticket.  He  was  also 
appointed  as  ii  member  of  the  committee  on  roads 
and  bridges,  and  of  the  committee  on  the  equaliza- 
tion of  personal  property.  He  is  liberal  in  his  re- 
ligious views,  as  is  also  his  estimable  lady.  As  a 
representative  of  the  wide-awake  and  thrifty  ele- 
ment of  his  township  he  stands  second  tononi'.  and 
has  contributed  his  full  share  toward  its  business 


-  .    456 


COLES   COUNTY. 


and  industrial  interests.  He  despises  the  idler,  and 
when  his  hands  are  not  employed,  his  busy  brain  is 
always  devising  some  enterprise  which  will  be  of 
benefit  both  to  himself  and  his  neighbors.  He  is 
of  the  same  stuff  of  which  the  earliest  pioneers  were 
made,  and  without  which  the  great  commonwealth 
of  Illinois  might  have  remained  an  uncivilized 
tract  of  country,  given  over  to  wild  beasts  and 
savages. 


HOPPER,  retired  farmer,  and  at 
iV  present  a  resident  of  Mattoon,  first  opened 
his  eyes  to  the  light  in  Knox  County,  Ky., 
Aug.  18,  1826.  He  is  of  Southern  par- 
entage, being  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Loviua  (Gar- 
land) Hopper,  the  former  a  native  of  Tennessee, 
and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  The  Hopper  family  is 
of  Scottish  ancestry,  but  the  Garlands  were  of 
English  descent,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  having  been  born  in  England.  He  came  to 
this  country  early  in  life,  and  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was  wounded  in  the 
head  and  a  half-dollar  piece  was  beaten  out  and 
placed  over  the  fracture,  where  it  remained  until 
his  death.  After  the  independence  of  the  Colonies 
had  been  established,  Grandfather  Garland  settled 
in  Clay  County,  Ky.,  where  his  death  occurred. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  married  and  reared  a 
family,  among  his  daughters  being  Lovina,  the 
mother  of  our  subject. 

-  Jacob  Hopper  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Tennessee, 
whence  he  removed  to  Kentucky  while  a  young 
man,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Lovina  Gar- 
land. His  parents  remained  in  Tennessee  and  died 
there.  Jacob  Hopper  and  his  young  wife  located 
on  a  small  farm  in  Knox  County,  Ky.,  where  in 
addition  to  agriculture  he  carried  on  coopering 
until  1837.  He  then  emigrated  with  his  family  to 
Illinois,  and  located  on  a  tract  of  Government 
land  in  North  Okaw  Township,  Coles  County, 
where  as  one  of  the  early  pioneers  he  endured  all 
the  vicissitudes  of  life  in  a  new  country.  The  first 
dwelling  of  himself  and  his  family  was  a  log  cabin, 
covered  with  shakes,  and  furnished  with  a  pun- 
cheon floor  and  a  door  of  clapboards.  The  huge 
fireplace  occupied  nearly  one  side  of  the  house, 


and  a  chimney  was^built  outside  of  mud  and  sticks. 
Within  this  humble  dwelling  their  younger  chil- 
dren were_Jjorn.  Jacob^Hopper  was  a  man  of  in- 
dustry and  perseverance  and  took  an  intelligent 
interest  in  what  was  going  on  around  him.  He  en- 
couraged the  establishment  of  schools  and  churches, 
serving  in  his  district  as  Director,  and  identifying 
himself  with  the  First  Baptist  Church  organization, 
of  which  he  remained  a  liberal  supporter  until  his 
death.  The  parental  household  included  ten  chil- 
dren, eight  now  living,  viz:  Andrew  J.,  Uriah, 
William  R.,  Dudley,  Susan,  Elizabeth,  James  F.  and 
Rhoda. 

Dudley  Hopper^was  a_lad  ten  years  of  age  when 
his  father  emigrated  to  Coles  County,  and  he  was 
occupied  around  the  homestead  until  reaching  his 
majority,  in  the  meantime  receiving  a  common- 
school  education.  After  leaving  home  he  enlisted 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War,  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  Co.  G,  5th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  serving  a  term 
of  eighteen  months.  At  the  termination  of  this 
conflict  he  returned  to  Illinois,  laying  a  land  war- 
rant on  160  acres  in  North  Okaw  Township,  upon 
which  he  built  a  log  house  and  proceeded  with  the 
improvement  of  his  farm  from  1850  until  1884. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  brought  about  excellent 
improvements  and  added  to  his  first  purchase  until 
he  became  possessor  of  423  acres,  all  of  which  he 
brought  to  a  fine  state  of  cultivation. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  _and  _Miss  .Jane 
Dixon  took  place  in  North  Okaw  Township,  Jan. 
17,  1850.  Mrs.  H.  was  the  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
and  Elizabeth  Dixon,  of  Virginia,  and  removed 
with  her  parents  to  Illinois,  becoming  a  resident  of 
this  county  in  1835.  She  departed  this  life  at  the 
homestead  in  1870,  leaving  three  children:  George 
H.,  who  married  Miss  Vina  Jackson,  and  has  three 
children — Elsie  M.,  Walter  E.  and  Minnie  D. ; 
Telitha,  Mrs.  Young,  who  has  four  children — 
Dudley,  Homer,  Rebecca  M.  and  Eva  G. ;  Harvey 
H.  married  Miss  Etta  Hitch,  and  has  two  children — 
Rowley  and  Lulu. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was 
married  Dec.  16,  1870,  was  formerly  Miss  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Ritchie)  Easter. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
farmers  by  occupation.  Her  grandfather,  Nicholas 


I 


COLES   COUNTY. 


457 


Easter,  who  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa., 
descended  from  German  ancestry.  Mrs.  Hopper 
was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  in  1829.  Her 
father  had  emigrated  to  the  Buckeye  State  in  about 
1825,  and  carried  on  farming  there  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  Both  parents  died  in  Adams  County. 

As  we  have  seen,  Dudley  Hopper  was  prospered 
in  his  business  and  farming  transactions,  and  as 
declining  years  admonished  him  it  was  time  to  rest 
from  his  arduous  labors,  he  removed,  in  1884,  to 
Mattoon  and  purchased  ground  at  the  intersection 
of  Fifth  and  Shelby  streets,  where  he  put  up  two 
houses,  one  of  which  he  occupies.  This  forms  an 
attractive  home,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.,  sur- 
rounded by  the  friends  whom  they  have  made  dur- 
ing a  long  and  worthy  life,  are  enjoying  their  later 
years  in  the  ease  and  comfort  so  justly  earned. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  II.  are  valued  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  our  subject 
officiates  as  Steward  and  to  the  support  of  which  he 
has  contributed  liberally  and  cheerfully  for  many 
years.  He  is  Democratic,  politically,  and  is  a 
citizen  highly  respected  for  his  sterling  worth  of 
character  and  the  upright  course  which  he  has  uni- 
formly pursued  through  life. 


JSAAC  PERISHO  came  to  this  county  over 
thirty  years  ago  and  settled  in  Hickory  Town- 
ship, where  he  successfully  cultivated  the  soil 
and  became  the  possessor  of  a  fine  estate,  embrac- 
ing 400  acres  of  land.  After  laboring  industriously 
and  accumulating  a  competency,  the  passing  years 
and  the  decline  of  bodily  strength  warned  him  that 
it  would  be  wise  to  rest.  He  accordingly  aban- 
doned the  more  active  labors  of  life,  and  repairing 
to  the  village,  has  since  lived  in  retirement  in  a 
handsome  home,  where  he  is  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  of  life. 

Our  subject  is  of  French  ancestry,  his  grand- 
father, Joseph  Perisho,  having  emigrated  from 
France  and  settled  in  North  Carolina,  forty  miles 
south  of  Norfolk,  on  the  sea  coast.  There  he  em- 
ployed himself  as  a  fisherman,  conducting  quite  an 
extensive  yard,  and  there  remained  until  resting 
from  his  earthly  labors  in  about  1801.  The  grand- 


mother  in  her  girlhood  was  Miss  Nancy  Sanders, 
also  of  French  parentage.  They  reared  a  family  of 
sons  and  daughters,  among  whom  was  Joseph,  Jr., 
the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  Dec.  25, 
1785,  in  North  Carolina,  and  there  spent  his  child- 
hood and  youth.  Upon  reaching  manhood  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  also  operated  a  gristmill  un- 
til twenty-six  years  of  age.  He  then  removed  to 
Washington  County,  Ind.,  being  one  of  the  first 
settlers  there,  and  built  one  of  the  first  houses  in 
the  county.  Here  he  was  married  in  1814.  Six 
years  later  he  removed  to  Monroe  County,  near 
Bloomington,  settling  in  the  timber,  and  clearing  a 
farm  from  the  wilderness.  This  he  occupied  until 
1825,  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Edgar  County, 
this  State,  where  he  took  up  a  tract  of  Government 
land,  and  remained  a  resident  until  his  death,  in 
April,  1838.  He  seemed  to  take  pride  in  going  into 
the  uncultivated  portions  of  the  country  and  build- 
ing up  from  the  virgin  soil  a  fine  and  fertile  farm. 
He  was  prospered  in  his  labors,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  was  the  owner  of  640  acres. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  in  her  girlhood 
was  Miss  Barbara  Ziuk,  was  born  July  25,  1 792, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Shelly)  Zink,  natives  of  Germany.  Mr.  Z.  em- 
igrated to  America  when  a  young  man,  and  settled 
in  Washington  County,  Va.,  where  he  engaged  in 
milling  on  the  Holston  River.  Thence  he  removed 
to  a  point  near  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  he  followed 
milling  and  farming  a  number  of  years,  and  then 
proceeding  to  Salem  County,  Ind.,  was  similarly  oc- 
cupied there  until  becoming  a  resident  of  Monroe 
County,  in  1818.  There  he  put  up  a  saw  and  grist 
mill,  which  he  operated  until  1827,  then  selling  out, 
came  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  and  continuing  his  for- 
mer employments,  remained  a  resident  of  Grand 
View  Township  until  his  death,  in  1841.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth,  had  preceded '  him  to  the  silent  land 
many  years  before,  in  1819.  They  reared  a  family 
of  nine  children,  three  now  living:  Rosa,  aged 
eighty-seven;  Elizabeth,  aged  eighty,  and  Andrew 
F.,  aged  fifty-seven.  Barbara,  the  mother  of  our 
subject,  died  in  her  seventy-ninth  year. 

Isaac  Perisho,  our  subject,  w.is  born  in  Monroe 
County,  Ind.,  May  2,  1818,  and  in  common  with 
his  brothers,  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  re- 


I 


t 


458 


COLES   COUNTY. 


I 


1 


ceived  a  limited  education.  When  not  quite 
twenty  years  of  age  he  was  married,  Jan.  9,  1838, 
to  Miss  Sarah  Zimmerly,  who  was  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington County,  Va.  This  lady  became  the  mother 
of  three  children,  of  whom  only  one,  Jacob  W., 
survives.  The  wife  and  mother  died  in  Jasper 
County,  111.,  Dec.  25,  1842.  Mr.  Perisho  was  the 
second  time  married,  June  27,  1843,  to  Miss  Lavina 
Purlee.  This  lady  was  a  "native  of  Washington 
County,  Ind.,  and  after  becoming  the  mother  of  one 
child,  a  son,  Hiram,  died  on  the  loth  of  October, 
1 844.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  who  was 
the  widow  of  James  Wells,  was  formerly  Miss  Ro- 
sanua  M.  O'Hair,  a  native  of  Wolfe  County.  Ky., 
and  they  were  married  June  12,  1845.  Of  this 
union  there  were  born  five  children,  four  now  liv- 
ing, namely,  Emily  J.,  John  E.,  Mary  E.  and 
Rosa  A. 

Mr.  Perisho  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  aiid 
all  engaged  together  in  farming  in  Grand  View 
Township  until  1825.  The  two  families  continued 
to  live  together  until  1838,  and  then  our  subject 
removed  to  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  his  father, 
which  he  occupied  until  1840.  Thence  he  removed 
to  Jasper  County,  where  he  improved  a  farm  and 
remained  three  years.  Then  returning  to  Edgar 
County  he  located  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Simms 
Township,  which  he  cultivated  until  1855,  and 
then  took  up  his  abode  in  Seven  Hickory  Township, 
this  county,  where  he  became  the  possessor  in  due 
time  of  400  acres  and  also  was  widely  known  as 
one  of  the  most  thorough  and  progressive  agricult- 
urists of  that  section.  Since  becoming  a  resident 
of  Charleston  he  has  wisely  given  himself  his 
needed  and  well-earned  rest,  and  in  the  companion- 
ship of  his  family  and  friends  is  beginning  to  feel 
that  his  last  days  are  his  best  ones. 

The  record  of  our  subject's  children  is  as  follows. 
Jacob  married  Miss  Nancy  Breeding,  and  they 
have  seven  children,  viz.,  Allen,  Ida,  Elizabeth, 
Viola,  William,  Everet  and  Nancy;  they  reside  on 
a  farm  in  Edgar  County.  Hiram,  who  is  farming 
near  Paris,  married  Miss  Eveline  Morris,  of  Edgar 
County;  Emily  J.  married  O.  C.  Bower,  a  farmer 
of  Morgan  Township,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Arthur  E. ;  John  E.,  who  is  farming  in  Seven  Hick- 
ory Township,  married  Miss  Aurelia  Miller,  and 


they  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  Edith  E. ;  Mary  E. 
is  the  wife  of  Otis  Davis,  of  Charleston,  and  the 
mother  of  tin  ee  children — Minnie  R.,  Llewellyn  and 
Mabel  P. ;  Rosa  A.,  the  wife  of  Andy  J.  Newman, 
of  Seven  Hickory  Township,  is  the  mother  of  three 
children — Oliver  P.,  George  M.  and  Ruby  R.  Mr. 
Perisho  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  with  his  wife  and  children  is  a  member 
and  regular  attendant  of  the  Christian  Church. 


JOHN    M.   DOTY,  a   prosperous  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  of  Charleston,  is  the  owner  of  a 
fine  estate  containing    155   acres  of  choice, 
'    well-improved  land.     He  was  born  Dec.  20, 
1844,  in  this  township  (for  the  history  of  his   par- 
ents see  sketch  of    Levi  Doty).       He    passed   his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  his  father's  farm,  receiving 
a   good    common-school    education,    and    gaining 
practical  experience  in  the  details  of  farming.     His 
marriage   to   Miss   Mary    E.  D.  Parker  took   place 
Nov.  13,  1864.     She  is   the  daughter   of   Fielding 
and    Ph(ebe  (Hughes)  Parker,  and    was   born   July 
1 8,  1 847,  in  Scott  County,  Ky.     Her  family  is  of 
English  extraction. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Doty  settled  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives.  His  farm  residence  is  pleasant 
and  commodious;  his  land  is  valuable  and  well  im- 
proved, and  he  gives  special  attention  to  the  rais- 
ing of  high-graded  stock.  In  1866  he  removed  to 
Scott  County,  Ky.,  on  account  of  his  wife's  failing 
health,  and  engaged  in  farming  there  until  1869, 
when  he  returned  to  Coles  County.  His  wife  died 
Aug.  30,  1884.  She  was  the  mother  of  five  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  now  living — Ludie  M., 
Chauncy  R.  and  Bertie.  Mr.  Doty,  like  his  father, 
is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  served  two  terms 
as  Supervisor. 


A  Ml' EL  LIPPINCOTT  settled  in  Coles 
County  in  October,  1855,  at  what  is  known 
as  Greasy  Point,  where  he  rented  land  for 
a  term  of  five  years,  and  in  the  meantime 
saved  enough  to  make  a  purchase  of  forty  acres  in 
the  fall  of  1859.  This  land  is  now  included  in  his 


T 


COLES   COUNTY 


459 


present  homestead,  which  he  took  possession  of  in 
1851.  Afterward  he  purchased  eighty  acres  which 
his  son  now  occupies,  and  in  due  time  became  the 
owner  of  215  acres,  upon  which  he  perfected  the 
improvements  which  had  already  been  begun,  so 
that  he  now  has  one  of  the  most  desirable  home- 
steads in  Morgan  Township. 

Mr.  Lippincott  is  a  forcible  illustration  of  the 
self-made  man,  who  began  life  equipped  only  with 
his  strong  hands  and  persevering  disposition.  At  the 
same  time  he  was  remarkably  fortunate  in  his  se- 
lection of  a  life  companion,  his  excellent  wife  hav- 
ing worked  hand  in  hand  with  him,  encouraging 
him  under  misfortune,  and  proving  at  all  times  a 
wise  counselor  and  his  most  faithful  friend.  Their 
efforts  in  time  were  abundantly  rewarded,  and  be- 
sides reaping  the  substantial  benefits  of  their  in- 
dustry, they  secured  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
who  knew  them.  One  feature  of  the  homestead  is 
the  blooded  stock,  which  includes  one  imported 
English  Sliien  and  one  Hambletonian  horse,  besides 
a  number  of  other  fine  animals. 

Samuel  Lippiucott  is  the  son  of  William  and  Phebe 
(Henry)  Lippincott,  the  former  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, born  in  1801,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia, 
born  in  1805.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  Samuel  B.,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
the  descendant  of  an  excellent  old  English  family, 
whose  history  has  been  preserved  through  the  lapse 
of  more  than  200  years,  embracing  500  individuals, 
and  extending  down  to  the  grandchildren  of  our 
subject.  Grandfather  Lippincott,  one  of  a  family 
of  three  or  four  children,  remained  in  his  native 
State  until  quite  an  old  man,  then  emigrated  to 
Allen  County,  Ohio,  during  its  early  settlement, 
himself  and  family  being  among  the  first  to  locate 
there.  He  purchased  a  tract  of  Government  land 
in  about  1827,  upon  which  the  town  of  Lima  stands, 
and  which  is  now  the  county  seat,  and  departed 
this  life  in  that  county  in  1  839.  His  wife  was  for- 
merly Miss  Elizabeth  Morgan,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Pennsylvania.  She  was  of  German  ances- 
try, and  became  the  mother  of  seven  children,  viz., 
Morgan  John,  Samuel,  Joseph,  William,  Henry, 
Jane  and  Elizabeth.  Jane  married  and  reared  a 
large  family ;  Elizabeth  died  in  her  youth.  The 
boys  were  all  married  in  Ohio  and  reared  large 


families;  Henry,  the  youngest,  became  Sheriff  of 
Allen  County ;  William,  the  fourth  son,  was  the 
father  of  our  subject,  and  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Ohio,  which  journey  was  performed  overland 
with  teams.  Upon  one  occasion  the  tedious  days 
of  travel  were  enlivened  by  the  running  away  of 
all  the  teams  in  the  mountains.  They  were  recapt- 
ured, however,  without  serious  injury  to  goods  or 
animals. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  Miss  Lydia  Waters,  a  native  of  his 
own  State.  They  located  upon  a  farm  in  Cham- 
paign Count}'.  Ohio,  where  they  remained  for  a 
number  of  years,  then  removed  to  Allen  County, 
whence,  after  a  residence  of  eight  years,  they  re- 
turned to  Champaign  County,  where  the  father 
died.  Of  the  first  marriage  there  were  born  a  son 
and  daughter — John  and  Harriett.  The  former 
engaged  in  wagon-making  in  the  city  of  Newark, 
and  became  the  father  of  a  large  family ;  Harriett, 
the  widow  of  James  Daniels,  is  a  resident  of  Wis- 
consin, and  the  mother  of  seven  children.  The 
second  wife  of  William  Lippincott  was  Miss  Phebe 
Hensey,  of  Virginia,  who  became  the  mother  of  our 
subject. 

Samuel  Lippincott  was  born  March  22,  1822,  in 
Logan  County,  Ohio,  whence  his  father  removed 
not  long  afterward  to  Champaign  County,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood.  He  lived  in  Allen  County 
also  with  his  parents,  and  after  his  marriage  in 
1847,  followed  farming  in  Champaign  County  un- 
til his  removal  to  Central  Illinois  in  1855.  The 
wife  of  our  subject,  formerly  Miss  Rachel  John- 
son, was  born  .Sept.  20,  1826,  in  Champaign  Coun- 
ty, and  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anna 
(Heath)  Johnson,  natives  respectively  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Virginia.  Thomas  Johnson  was  born  in 
1802,  and  was  cut  down  in  his  prime,  his  death  oc- 
curring when  he  was  but  thirtj'-seven  years  of  age. 
The  '  wife  and  mother  survived  until  1863.  dying 
in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  when  sixty-nine  years 
old.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  six 
now  living:  Eliza,  Mrs.  Jenkins,  is  the  mother  >of 
five  children,  and  lives  in  Ohio;  Lev!  has  a  farm  of 
275  acres  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio;  Emily  mar- 
ried Samuel  Small,  who  died  in  April,  1887,  and 
left  three  children ;  Mrs.  S.  is  now  living  at  the 


460 


COLES   COUNTY. 


home  of  our  subject,  in  this  county.  Martha  Ann 
married  Peter  Baker,  of  Urbana,  Ohio,  and  became 
the  mother  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  two 
of  the  former  now  deceased ;  Rachel,  Mrs.  L.,  was 
the  youngest  of  the  family;  Minerva,  unmarried,  is 
living  with  one  of  her  sisters  in  Ohio.  Levi.  the 
son  of  David  Johnson,  served  as  a  Union  soldier  in 
the  late  war,  from  1861  to  1864. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Lippincott  became  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  all  living,  as  follows :  George 
William,  born  June  9,  1848,  married  Miss  Mary 
Montgomery,  and  is  the  father  of  seven  children ; 
they  occupy  a  part  of  the  homestead ;  James  Mil- 
ton, born  Oct.  4,  1850,  married  Miss  Lulu  Sumner, 
has  two  children,  and  lives  in  Moultrie  County; 
Marietta,  born  Dec.  18,  1852,  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Combs  (see  sketch) ;  Martha  Ann,  born  Sept. 
18,  1856,  is  the  wife  of  John  Hornaday,  of  Morgan 
Township,  and  the  mother  of  two  children;  Rosella 
Jane,  born  Feb.  24,  1859,  is  the  wife  of  Matthias 
Smith,  of  Seven  Hickory  Township,  and  the  mother 
of  three  children :  LydiaCelia,  born  Feb.  3,  1863,  is 
the  wife  of  James  Smail,  of  Oakland,  and  has  one 
child  living,  one  being  deceased ;  John  Henry,  born 
April  6,  1866,  is  unmarried  and  at  home;  Edward 
Theodore,  born  Nov.  30,  1868,  was  the  last  baby 
of  the  household,  and  is  now  a  bright  lad  not  quite 
nineteen  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Lippincott  in  1865  became  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  for  a  period 
of  twenty  years  has  .been  one  of  its  warmest  sup- 
porters and  most  cheerful  givers.  During  this  time 
he  has  officiated  a  long  period  as  Elder,  and  has  the 
pleasure  of  knowing  that  all  of  his  family  are 
gathered  into  the  fold  with  him.  He  became  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
1864,  which  had  been  organized  at  Union  Point  in 
1845,  by  Mr.  Ashmore,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  county,  and  one  of  its  most  highly  respected 
citizens,  but  afterward  found  it  convenient  to  with- 
draw. Mr.  L.  considers  that  the  best  sermon  he 
ever  heard  was  preached  in  the  early  times  in  Ash- 
more  Township.  He  assisted  in  hauling  the  ma- 
terial for  the  church  edifice  in  which  he  now 
worships  from  Newport,  Ind.,  in  the  winter  of 
1855,  and  was  one  of  the  chief  pillars  in  upholding 
the  organization  amid  discouragements  and  difficul- 


ties.  Politically  he  has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party  since  its  organization,  al- 
though only  meddling  in  politics  enough  to  deter- 
mine the  candidate  best  worthy  to  receive  his  sup- 
port. 

The  brothers  and  sisters  of  our  subject  are  re- 
corded as  follows:  Jane,  the  wife  of  E.  Smith,  is  a 
resident  of  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  has  a  -fam- 
ily of  two  sons  and  five  daughters;  Lydia  Ann 
married  George  Smith,  has  six  children,  and  lives 
in  Scotland  County,  Mo. ;  George,  a  merchant  of 
Springfield,  Ohio,  was  married  and  became  the 
father  of  only  one  child,  who  died  young;  he  has 
been  a  widower.. for  several,  years.  Nancy  died 
when  two  years  of  age.  George  served  as  a  soldier 
through  the  late  war.  Soon  after  enlisting  he  was 
sent  home  on  account  of  disability,  but  employed 
himself  in  recruiting  a  company,  and  going  back 
to  the  field  was  appointed  Lieutenant,  and  after- 
ward Captain,  receiving  in  the  meantime  a  ball  in 
the  shoulder,  which  he  still  carries. 


<jfl  AMES  S.  YEARGIN.  The  history  of  this 
gentleman,  who  is  the  founder  and  proprie- 
tor of  the  Oakland  Weekly  Ledger,  forms  a 
biography  which  will  be  read  with  interest 
and  which  is  in  its  main  points  as  follows:  The 
paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  William 
Yeargin  by  name,  was  a  native  of  Wales.  He 
married  a  Huguenot  lady  who  emigrated  with  her 
parents  from  France.  They  settled  near  Winyaw 
Bay,  S.  C.,  and,  further  than  that  they  reared  a 
family  of  sons  and  daughters,  little  is  known  of 
them  by  their  descendants. 

The  maternal  great-grandparents  were  William 
and  Ellen  (Tripp)  Swafford,  of  Scotch  ancestry. 
This  was  said  to  have  been  a  runaway  match,  but 
proved  a  remarkably  happy  one.  To  them  were 
born  seven  sons,  among  whom  was  James,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  and  after  whom  the 
latter  was  named.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  was  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Morgan  at  the  battle  of  Cowpens.  He 
married,  in  early  manhood,  Miss  Miriam  Julian, 


I 


COLES   COUNTY. 


461 


who  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  of  Welsh 
descent.  She  was  one  of  the  brave  women  of  that 
day  who  sympathized  with  the  Colonists  in  their 
struggle  for  liberty,  and  assisted  in  taking  care  of 
the  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Guilford  Court- House, 
in  her  native  State.  Their  son,  Thomas,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  served  his  country  at  the  time  that  "tried 
men's  souls"  for  a  term  of  six  years.  He  officiated 
as  chief  of  the  Commissary  Department  at  York- 
town,  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  His  son 
Peter,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Loudoun  County,  Va.,  in  1785,  and  when  twenty- 
lour  years  of  age,  emigrated  with  his  father  to 
Randolph  County,  N.  C.  He  was  soon  afterward 
married  to  Miss  Patience  Swafford,  with  whom  he 
lived  happily. 

Peter  Yeargin  emigrated  with  his  family  to 
Illinois  in  the  spring  of  1846,  locating  in  Edgar 
County  while  it  was  still  a  wilderness.  He  built 
up  a  comfortable  homestead  and  resided  there  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  in  1863.  He  also, 
following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  forefathers,  was  at 
one  period  a  soldier  in  the  Federal  army,  and  was 
stationed  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  under  the  command  of 
Col.  Roderick  C.  Cotton,  the  hero  of  Craney 
Island.  He  served  one  year  and  received  his 
honorable  discharge. 

James  S.  Yeargin,  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Randolph  County,  N.  C.,  Feb.  1,  1833,  and  came 
with  his  father  to  Edgar  County,  111.,  where  he  was 
reared  and  obtained  his  schooling  in  a  log  cabin, 
attending  three  months  in  the  year  until  eighteen 
years  old.  His  brother,  Parmeno,  having  developed 
into  a  physician,  our  subject  engaged  to  catch  and 
saddle  his  horse,  keep  his  office  in  order,  make 
fires  and  milk  the  cow,  thus  paying  his  board  while 
he  kept  on  with  his  studies.  He  finally  graduated 
under  the  tuition  of  "Uncle  James  Evving,"  having 
learned  all  that  individual  could  teach  him,  and 
then  himself  began  the  profession  of  a  pedagogue, 
by  which  he  was  enabled  to  obtain  funds  to  enter 
Wabash  College.  He  took  two  terms  in  that  institu- 
tion,, and  afterward  taught  school  in  Illinois  and 
Indiana  until  1857.  Then,  desirous  of  settling 
down  in  life,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  J.  Koontz.  They  became  the  parents  of 


two  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  in  1 863  removed 
from  Edgar  to  Coles  County,  settling  in  Oakland, 
where  they  still  reside. 

The  early  efforts  Of  Mr.  Yeargin  to  obtain  an 
education  form  a  chapter  in  his  history  greatly  to 
his  credit.  The  people  of  East  Oakland  Township 
at  once  recognized  his  ability  and  worth,  and  in 
1865  he  was  elected  County  Surveyor  of  Coles 
County  on  the  Republican  ticket,  which  office  he 
filled  with  satisfaction  to  all  concerned  for  two 
years,  and  then  declined  a  re-election.  In  1873 
he  was  elected  Police  Magistrate  of  the  village  of 
Oakland,  holding  the  office  four  years,  and  was 
then  Clerk  of  the  township  for  five  consecutive 
terms.  He  was  appointed  Postmaster  in  1885.  un- 
der the  administration  of  President  Cleveland,  not 
only  as  a  reward  for  services  rendered  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  for  having  fully  established  him- 
self in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
townsmen. 

The  Weekly  Ledger,  with  which  our  subject  con- 
tinues to  be  connected  as  senior  editor  and  man- 
ager, is  mainly  edited  by  his  son,  Lyman  T.  The 
history  of  this  newspaper  is  peculiar  and  a  little  out 
of  the  ordinary.  It  was  established  as  a  monthly 
on  the  6th  of  September,  1878,  and  in  size  was 
about  as  large  as  a  common-sized  window-pane,  it 
being  a  folio  and  each  page  printed  at  a  run. 
Notwithstanding  that  at  this  time  there  was  another 
paper  in  the  village  of  Oakland,  the  Ledger  by  its 
strict  attention  to  home  matters,  soon  became  the 
popular  paper,  and  was,  after  a  few  months,  pub- 
lished as  a  weekly,  remaining  the  same  size  as  be- 
fore. Its  proprietors  possessed  but  limited  means, 
and  were  not  able  to  purchase  a  mammouth  print- 
ing establishment,  consequently  were  obliged  to 
enlarge  their  outfit  by  degrees.  Their  progress, 
although  perhaps  slow,  was  sure,  and  in  1880  a 
large  power  press  was  secured,  and  the  paper  en- 
larged to  a  four-column  quarto,  set  in  nonpareil 
type,  and  still  containing  the  larger  amount  of 
home  news  of  the  two  papers  in  the  village.  This 
same  year  the  politics  of  the  paper  was  changed 
from  Republican  to  Democratic,  which  it  still  re- 
mains. 

In  1882  the  Ledger  was  enlarged  to  a  five-column 
quarto,  its  present  size,  and  an  entire  new  outfit 


f 


t 


462 


COLES   COUNTY. 


purchased.  On  the  28th  of  July,  1885,  the  elder 
Yeargin,  having  received  the  appointment  of  Post- 
master, took  charge  of  the  latter  office,  leaving  the 
Ledger  practically  in  charge  of  his  son,  L.  T.  Year- 
gin,  better  known  as  -'Nixie,"  a  biography  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  Ledger  is 
accounted  the  leading  local  paper  in  Coles  County, 
and  the  generous  manner  in  which  it  is  patronized 
by  the  people,  is  a  sufficient  indication  of  its  in- 
fluence and  popularity. 


/p?j)EORGE  RAINES  is  proprietor  of  a  black- 
'II  (=7  smith-shop,  and  also  the  owner  of  a  farm 
^^S  containing  forty  acres  of  laud,  located  in 
Lafayette  Township.  He  is  the  son  of  George  and 
Susan  (Bland)  Raines,  and  was  born  March  22, 
1829,  in  Pendleton  County,  W.  Va.  His  father  was 
a  farmer,  and  he  was  reared  at  home,  assisting  in 
the  various  branches  of  agricultural  labor.  He 
passed  his  early  life  in  his  native  State  and  in  1852 
name  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Lafayette  Township. 
After  his  arrival  here  he  was  engaged  for  three 
years  as  a  wage- worker  in  farm  labor.  But  his 
preferences  were  not  inclined  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  he  subsequently  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  has  since  successfully  carried  on. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Raines  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet 
Maze.  Mrs.  Raines  is  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Mahala  (Coleman)  Maze,  and  was  born  May  31, 
1840,  in  Shelby  County,  Ind.  A  family  of  seven 
children  was  born  to  them,  six  of  whom  are  living: 
Alice,  now  the  wife  of  W.  L.  R.  Funkhouser;  Laura 
Belle,  the  wife  of  George  Hurst;  George  B.  M. ; 
Etta  Viola,  the  wife  of  L.  D.  Eldridge ;  Adeline 
and  Martha.  Mrs.  Raines  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church. 


E.  WOODS,  editor  of  the  Mattoon  Journal, 
a  daily  and  weekly  paper  which  has  become 
quite  indispensable  to  the  people  of  Coles 
County,  is  also  part  publisher  and  proprietor  of 
the  same,  and  has  distinguished  himself  as  a 
practical  journalist  of  sound  sense,  and  with  a  fair 


acquaintance  of  the  needs  of  the  people  in  this  di- 
rection. He  is  a  gentleman  well  known  in  this  sec- 
tion of  county,  having  been  born  in  Lafayette 
Township,  this  county,  June  2,  1837,  and  being 
consequently  of  the  age  when  his  capacities  are  in 
their  full  vigor,  and  his  judgment,  sharpened  by  an 
acquaintance  with  the  world  and  human  nature  in 
general,  has  given  him  broad  and  liberal  views  of 
life. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Hiram  and  Mar- 
garet (Threlkeld)  Woods,  natives  of  Kentucky  and 
highly  respected  members  of  the  farming  commu- 
nity. They  emigrated  to  this  county  in  about 
1833,  and  from  the  undeveloped  soil  built  up  a 
good  farm.  During  the  late  war,  the  father  of  our 
subject  enlisted  in  the  62d  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
gave  three  years  to  the  service  of  his  country.  He 
participated  in  various  campaigns,  and  was  once 
captured  by  the  rebels  at  Holly  Springs,  being, 
however,  retained  as  prisoner  but  a  short  time.  It 
is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  he  was  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican, and  both  parents  were  members  of  the  Old- 
School  Baptist  Church.  The  elder  Woods  became 
more  or  less  identified  with  the  local  affairs  of  the 
township,  being  a  man  of  cool  and  temperate  judg- 
ment, whose  opinions  were  held  in  general  respect. 
He  "possessed  great  enterprise  and  industry,  and 
was  a  sub-contractor  on  the  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R. 

The  parental  family  of  our  subject  numbered  six 
children,  four  now  living,  namely:  Thomas  E.,  of 
our  sketch;  Harriet  A.,  Mrs.  Bridges,  of  Malvern, 
Iowa;  Winfield  and  Milton  Y.  The  mother  de- 
parted this  life  in  Mattoon,  in  the  spring  of  1859. 
Hiram  Woods  survived  until  1884,  spending  his 
last  years  in  Mattoon. 

Thomas  E.  Woods  remained  on  his  father's  farm 
until  he  was  a  youth  of  eighteen  years,  in  the  mean- 
time receiving  a  good  education,  and  then  com- 
menced teaching  school.  A  year  later  he  engaged 
as  clerk  in  a  general  store  at  Mattoon,  and  also 
officiated  as  Deputy  Postmaster,  being  the  second 
man  to  fulfill  the  duties  of  Postmaster  at  Mattoon. 
In  1858  he  purchased  the  Mattoon  Gazette,  which 
he  conducted  two  and  one-half  years,  and  then  re- 
turning to  the  rural  districts,  engaged  in  farming 
for  a  year.  He  now  decided  upon  the  study  of 
law,  and  going  to  Charleston  entered  the  office  of 


i    .U  :  V 
0'     li-.E 


iu.iro'8 


1= 


COLES   COUNTY. 


465 


Hon.  H.  P.  H.  Bromwell,  where  he  read  law  and  at 
the  same  time  officiated  as  editor  of  the  Charleston 
Courier.  The  war  now  coming  on  he  enlisted,  in 
1862,  in  Co.  A,  123d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  soon 
afterward  made  Quartermaster  Sergeant.  Eighteen 
months  later  he  became  Sergeant  Major,  and  the 
last  year  commanded  Company  H,  being  mustered 
out  with  a  Captain's  commission. 

After  returning  from  the  army  Capt.  Woods  pur- 
chased the  Mattoon  Journal,  and  since  that  time 
has  had  editorial  charge.  Under  his  supervision 
the  Journal  has  become  very  efficient  and  popular  as 
an  exponent  of  Republican  principles,  while  at  the 
same  time  it  is  a  lively  record  of  local  and  general 
news. 

Mr.  Woods  was  married,  in  1860.  to  Miss  Lizzie 
N.,  daughter  of  Dumas  and  Lucy  Jones,  of  this 
county.  This  lady  died  in  1866,  and  six  years  later 
Mr.  Woods  contracted  a  second  marriage,  with  Miss 
Louie  V.  Powers,  of  Griggsville,  111.,  the  daughter 
of  Rev.  William  R.  Powers,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  now  deceased.  Of  this  union  there  have  been 
born  four  children — Eulalie,  Percival,  Margaret  and 
Hallie.  Mr.  W.  belongs  to  the  K.  of  H.,  the  K.  and 
L.  of  H.,  and  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
G.  A.  R. 


OHN  J.  HALL,  a  substantial  fanner  and 
stock-grower  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township, 
resides  in  the  dwelling  erected  and  occupied 
by  Thomas  Lincoln,  father  of  the  lamented 
President.  He  is  the  son  of  Squire  and  Matilda 
(Johnston)  Hall,  and  was  born  in  Spencer  County, 
Ind.,  April  12,  1829.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
Kentucky,  where  they  were  married,  and  removed 
thence  to  Spencer  County.  In  1830  the  family 
came  to  Illinois,  and  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  this  county.  Mr.  Hall  was  a  first  cousin  to 
Abraham  Lincoln's  mother,  and  his  wife  was  the 
step-sister  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

The  Lincoln  and  Hall  families  moved  from 
.  Spencer  County,  Ind.,  to  Macon  County,  111.,  in  the 
same  wagon,  and  Abraham  Lincoln  drove  the  team. 
Both  families  passed  one  year  in  Macon  County, 
during  which  period  Abraham  Lincoln  split  the 
rails  which  afterward  became  historic,  and  proved 


a  successful  factor  in  his  political  career.  It  was  the 
last  work  he  ever  did  on  the  farm.  In  the  following 
year  both  families  moved  to  Coles  County,  and 
settled  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township.  Mr.  Hall's 
death  occurred  Oct.  5,  1851.  His  widow  survived 
him  many  years,  and  died  Feb.  20,  1878.  They 
had  a  family  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  are  now 
living,  their  record  being  as  follows:  John  J.  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Nancy  Ann  is  the  wife  of 
Miles  Moore;  Elizabeth  J.  married  John  Berry; 
Alfred  L. ;  Louisa  became  the  wife  of  Merrill  Fox ; 
Amanda  is  now  Mrs.  Robert  Brown;  Joseph; 
Rachel  and  Harriet,  twins ;  the  former  is  the  wife  of 
Alfred  Payne,  and  the  latter  married  J.  E.  Landrus. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Hall  married 
Reuben  Moore,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  named 
Giles. 

John  Hall  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  the 
pioneer  days  of  Coles  County.  He  assisted  his 
father  in  the  summer,  and  during  the  winter 
trudged  bravely  three  and  a  half  miles  through  the 
bitter  cold  and  drifted  snow  to  the  nearest  log 
school-house,  which,  when  reached,  afforded  but  lit- 
tle shelter  from  the  sharp  prairie  winds,  and  the 
learning  dispensed  there  was  of  a  very  rudimentary 
character.  However,  it  was  the  best  the  times 
afforded,  and  much  shrewd  wit  and  wisdom  were 
developed  by  observation  and  experience  in  those 
early  days,  if  not  acquired  from  book-learning. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1866,  Mr.  Hall  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Taylor)  Gaston. 
Mrs.  Hall  was  born  Sept.  28,  1835,  in  Coles  Coun- 
ty, and  was  first  married  to  Oliver  B.  Gaston,  on 
the  23d  of  October,  1856.  Of  this  union  there 
were  born  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now 
living,  Ludlow  Gaston.  In  1851  Mr.  Hall  purchased 
the  estate  of  Thomas  Lincoln,  where  he  has  resided 
since  his  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hall  have  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows: 
Harriet,  Squire,  Nancy  Ann,  Matilda,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln and  Joseph. 

Mr.  Hall  has  acquired  his  property  by  industry 
and  energy.  He  owns  an  estate  containing  325 
acres  of  valuable  land,  and  in  conducting  his  farm 
gives  special  attention  to  stock-raising.  Our  subject 
possesses  am  pie  means  to  erect  a  fine  residence,  and 
will  doubtless  do  so  in  the  future,  but  so  many  rec- 


I 


,  >    466 


COLES    COUNTY. 


ollections  cluster  about  the  old  homestead,  that  they 
desire  to  retain  it  in  a  habitable  condition  as  long 
as  possible.  Mr.  Hall  cast  his  first  vote  for  John 
Fremont  in  1856,  and  since  that  time  has  been  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Hall  is  shown  in 
this  connection,  as  a  fitting  adjunct  to  the  above 
brief  sketch  of  his  life,  and  as  a  companion  picture 
we  are  pleased  to  place  beside  it  that  of  his  estima- 
ble wife. 


fS  AAC  N.  CRAIG,  a  wealthy  and  retired  farmer, 
has  been  a  citizen  of  Charleston  for  nearly 
jj^  twenty  years,  taking  up  his  residence  here  after 
his  abandonment  of  farm  life  in  1869.  His  home- 
stead consists  of  sixty-two  and  one-half  acres  of 
valuable  land  adjacent  to  the  city  limits,  and  be- 
sides this  property  he  is  the  owner  of  700  acres  else- 
where in  Coles  County.  Since  becoming  a  resident 
of  Central  Illinois  he  has  distinguished  himself  as  a 
wide-awake  and  enterprising  citizen,  identifying 
himself  with  the  interests  of  the  people,  and  being 
the  especial  encourager  and  supporter  of  the  insti- 
tutions pertaining  to  the  intellectual  and  moral  wel- 
fare of  the  people.  He  is  one  of  the  pillars  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  has  boen  connected  with  the 
Second  National  Bank  as  a  stockholder  and  Director, 
since  its  organization.  His  career  illustrates  in  a 
marked  manner  the  influence  which  a  man  of  wise 
judgment  and  generous  impulses  may  exert  upon  a 
community,  and  the  good  which  may  be  accom- 
plished directly  and  indirectly  by  one,  who,  while 
looking  after  his  own  property,  has  a  thought  also 
for  the  interests  of  the  community  around  him. 

Isaac  N.  Craig  is  a  native  of  Montgomery 
County,  Ky.,  his  birth  taking  place  Sept.  25,  1810. 
His  parents,  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Nickel)  Craig, 
were  natives  of  Virginia,  but  reared  in  Kentucky. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Old  Dominion,  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  the  son  of  Victor  Craig,  who  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and  who  settled  in  Virginia 
early  in  life,  and  engaged  in  merchandising.  Rob- 
ert Craig  was  born  in  1781,  and  was  but  a  lad 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Kentucky.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  within  the  confines  of  Strode 


Fort,  to  which  his  father  at  one  time  removed  for 
protection  from  the  Indians.  He  received  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  good  English  education,  and  remained 
in  the  Blue  Grass  regions  until  1828,  in  the  mean- 
time being  bred  to  farming  pursuits.  He  carried 
on  agriculture  several  years,  then  sold  out,  and  com- 
ing to  Clark  County,  this  State,  purchased  a  quarter 
section  of  Government  land  upon  which  he  built  a 
log  house,  and  proceeded  with  its  improvement  and 
cultivation  until  1842.  Thence  he  removed  to 
Edgar  County,  where  he  remained  until  his  death, 
:  in  1847.  His  wife  also  died  the  same  year.  Robert 
Craig  was  a  stanch  Democrat,  politically,  and  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  to  identify  himself  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  was  also  connected  with  the  Universal- 
ist  Church.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  was  a  Baptist. 
They  reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
only  two  survive,  namely,  Isaac  N.  and  his  sister, 
Narcissa,  Mrs.  Thomas  Davis,  of  Morgan  Town- 
ship, this  county. 

The  subject  of  this  history    was  reared   on  the 
farm  until  about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  receiving 
a  common-school  education.    One  of  the  first  steps 
toward  the  establishment  of  a  home,  was  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherine  Henson,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
which,  took  place  at  the  home  of   the   bride,  April 
I    14,  1831.     After  their  marriage,  the  young  people 
located  upon  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Clark  County, 
|   given  them   by   the   father  of  our   subject,  and  of 
'•    which  they  retained  possession  for  five  years.     Mr. 
Craig  then  sold  out  and    purchased    164   acres   in 
j    Morgan  Township,  this  county,  which  he  occupied 
1   thirteen  years,  and  where  his  wife  died,  leaving  five 
children,    three    now    living,    namely,    Lafayette; 
Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Gregg,  and  Harriet,  Mrs.  Mitchell. 
The  second  wife  of  our  subject   was  in  her  girl- 
hood Miss  Elizabeth  Bloyer,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Harding)  Bloyer,  natives  of  Switzerland.     They 
emigrated  to  America  in  1817,  and  located  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  became  the  parents  of  three 
children,  of  whom   Mrs.  C.  is  the  only  one  living. 
Mr.  Bloyer  only  lived  seven  years  after  coming  to 
America.      The    mother   afterward    came    to    this 
county,  and    locating   at   Charleston,   remained   a 
resident  there  until  her  death,  in  1851.     The  union  i 


COLES   COUNTY. 


467 


of  Isaac  N.  Craig  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Bloyer  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  six  children,  namely,  Cather- 
ine, now  Mrs.  McMullen;  James  W.,  practicing  law 
at  Mattoou;  Andrew  J.,  a  farmer;  L.  E.,  Mrs. 
Swange;  Isaac  B.,  an  attorney  at  Mattoon,  and 
Thomas  J. 


AMUEL  WYETH,  a  son  of  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  this  county,  is  located 
on  the  land  entered  by  his  father  from  a 
Mexican  land  grant  in  1853,  and  which  he 
purchased  of  the  latter,  in  1853.  He  is  located 
on  section  27,  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  with 
whose  farming  interests  he  has  been  identified  for 
the  last  thirty  years.  He  is  a  New  Englander  by 
birth,  his  native  place  being  Franklin  County, 
Mass.,  where  he  was  born  Nov.  20,  1832.  His 
father,  Nathan  S.  Wyeth,  was  born  in  Massachusetts 
May  16,  1801,  and  his  mother,  formerly  Miss 
Hannah  P.  Kellogg,  a  native  of  the  same  State,  was 
born  in  1800. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Gad 
Wyeth  by  name,  and  a  native  of  the  Bay  State, 
was  born  July  27,  1763,  and  married  Miss  Mary 
Kendall,  also  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  Dec. 
3,  1770,  their  wedding  taking  place  at  the  home  of 
the  bride  in  1792.  They  became  the  parents  of 
six  children,  namely,  Jonas  Parker,  born  Oct.  27, 
1793;  Gad,  Jr.,  July  4.  1795;  Joseph  S.,  Nov.  8, 
1796;  Mary,  Sept  15,  1799;  Nathan  S.,  May  16, 
1801,  and  David,  Oct  3,  1802. 

The  eldest  son  of  the  grandparents'  family,  Jonas 
P.,  emigrated  to  Illinois  about  1  853,  having  been 
married  to  Miss  Margaret  Files,  July  25,  1825. 
He  located  on  a  farm  in  Humbolt  Township  and 
died  there.  His  widow  afterward  removed  to 
Michigan,  where  her  death  took  place  after  a  few 
years.  Gad  W.  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Chase, 
May  18,  1823,  and  died  in  middle  life  in  his  native 
State;  Joseph  S.  married  Miss  Sallie  Star,  Oct.  11, 
1823,  and  is  a  resident  of  Massachusetts;  Mary 
W.  became  the  wife  of  Silas  Stites,  Feb.  9,  1825; 
David  married  Miss  Sallie  Kellogg,  Jan.  2,  1826, 
and  died  in  Ohio;  his  svidow  is  still  living  there. 
Nathan  S..  removed  from  Massachusetts  to  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  until  1851,  then  came  to  this  county 


and  located  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  where  he 
became  a  large  land-holder;  he  died  Aug.  11, 
1864;  his  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  died 
Feb.  6,  1866.  Years  ago  he  united  with  the  Bap- 
tists, but  subsequently  became  a  Methodist.  His 
wife  was  also  a  member  of  the  latter  church. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  Nov. 
15,  1824,  and  to  them  were  born  the  following 
children:  Nancy  K.,  born  Nov.  7,  1825;  Leonard 
J.,  born  Jan.  13,  1827,  married  Miss  Malinda 
Northway,  and  is  a  resident  of  Tuscola,  111. ;  they 
have  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter,  Clarence  and 
Emma.  Joseph  S.,  born  Sept.  13,  1828,  is  a  resident 
of  Douglas  County;  Albert  B.,  born  Dec,  22,  1829,  is 
married  and  a  resident  of  Seven  Hickory  Township, 
his  wife  being  formerly  Miss  Angelina  Carris; 
their  children  are  George  and  ^ora.  Samuel  K., 

|  our  subject;  Thomas  S.,  born  June  21,  1833,  has 
been  twice  married,  and  is  a  resident  of  Seven 
Hickory  Township;  Mary  K.,  born  Dec.  28,  1838, 
is  the  widow  of  John  F.  Coffer  and  a  resident 
of  Douglas  County;  Delilah,  born  June  7,  1841, 
died  the  following  year  in  Licking  County,  Ohio. 
The  father  of  our  subject  came  to  Illinois  in  1851, 
opened  up  a  good  farm  in  Seven  Hickory  Township, 
and  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  While 
on  a  visit  to  Tuscola  he  died  at  the  home  of  his 

j  son,  Aug.  11,  1864.  The  wife  and  mother  de- 
parted this  life  in  Seven  Hickory  Township  Feb. 
6,  1866. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  but  a  youth  when 
his  father  emigrated  to  Ohio,  and  received  a 
limited  education,  continuing  under  the  parental 
roof  until  reaching  his  majority.  Soon  afterward 
he  started  out  for  himself,  first  farming  on  rented 
land  and  then  purchased  160,]acres  of  his  father, 
where  several  years  later  he  engaged  largely  in  the 
cultivation  of  broom  corn,  and  afterward  turned 
his  attention  to  stock-rais'ing  in  addition  to  diversi- 
fied farming.  In  1879  he  put  up  a  commodious 
frame  residence,  and  is  amply  supplied  with  other 
necessary  farm  buildings. 

Samuel  Wyeth  was  married,  Oct.  27,  1857,  to 
Miss  Catherine  Combs,  who  was  born  in  Clark 
County,  Ind.,  Aug.  29,  1838,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  William  and  Margaret  (Myers)  Combs,  natives 
respectively  of  Indiana  and  Kentucky.  They 


468 


COLES   COUNTY. 


located  in  Coles  County  in  1853,  where  the  mother 
died  July  2,  1880.  The  father  is  also  deceased, 
dying  Sept.  1,  1874.  Their  children  were,  Mary 
Jane,  now  a  resident  of  Indiana;  Nancy,  deceased  ; 
Catherine,  the  wife  of  our  subject;  William  and 
Margaret,  deceased;  Rachel,  the  wife  of  Thomas 
C.  Coffer,  and  John,  who  died  Nov.  22,  1 872.  All 
were  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  The 
children  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  are,  William 
Madison,  James  F.,  Thomas  J.,  Mary  J.,  John,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  three,  and  Minnie  when  one  year 
old.  The  only  daughter  living  became  the  wife  of 
Abraham  Hard  in,  and  resides  fifteen  miles  east  of 
Louisville,  Ky.  The  others  are  at  home  with  their 
parents. 

Mr.  Wyeth,  politically,  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
liable members  of  the  Republicaji  party,  and  with 
his  wife  and  children  is  connected  with  the  Chris- 
tian Church  at  Rural  Retreat.  The  home  farm  of 
Mr.  Wyeth  comprises  480  acres,  which  is  one  of 
the  finest  and  best  improved  in  the  county.  Be- 
sides the  home  place  he  has  160  acres  across  the 
line  in  Douglas  County,  200  acres  in  Morgan 
Township,  and  700  acres  more  in  different  locali- 
ties in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  making  a  grand 
total  of  1,540  acres.  Besides  his  farm  property 
he  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Arcola  Bank  in  Douglas 
County,  and  in  all  respects  a  representative  citizen 
of  the  progressive  and  enterprising  Prairie  State. 


M.  MOZ1ER,  Trainmaster  of  the  I.  &  St. 
L.  R.  R.  at  Mattoon,  an  experienced  rail- 
road man,  and  who  has  occupied  his  pres- 
ent position  since  the  fall  of  1882,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  born  near  Mt.  Gil- 
ead,  May  31,  1843.  His  parents,  Luther  D.  and 
Abbie  L.  (Harrison)  Mozier,  were  natives  respect- 
ively of  Vermont  and  New  Jersey.  The  elder 
Mozier  when  a  young  man  emigrated  from  his  na- 
tive State  to  Knox  County,  Ohio,  and  being  in  pos- 
session of  a  good  education,  entered  upon  the  pro- 
fession of  a  school  teacher,  which  he  followed  for 
many  years.  After  abandoning  thisjhe  engaged  in 


farming,  merchandising  and  railroading.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  energy,  and  was  prominent  in  the 
local  affairs  of  his  county,  being  one  of  the  stanch- 
est  adherents  of  the  Republican  party  in  that  sec- 
tion. He  was  also  an  Abolitionist,  and  raised  his 
voice  whenever  opportunity  occurred  in  behalf  of 
human  freedom.  Both  parents  belonged  to  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  Luther  Mozier  and  his 
excellent  lady  lived  to  celebrate  their  golden  wed- 
ding, in  1882,  which  was  a  most  interesting  event 
1  participated  in  by  their  six  children,  and  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

The  parental  family  of  our  subject  consisted  of 
seven  children,  six  now  living,  as  follows:  Joseph 
W.  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  farming  in  Ohio, 
but  is  now  retired,  and  a  resident  of  Edison,  that 
State;  William  H.,  also  retired  from  active  labor,  is 
a  resident  of  Van  Wirt,  Ohio;  A.  M.,  of  our  sketch, 
was  the  fourth  child ;  George  W.  is  a  resident  of 
Kansas  City,  where  he  deals  in  real  estate ;  Mary 
L.,  Mrs.  Dodge,  is  a  resident  of  Valparaiso,  Ind.; 
Charles  R.,  residing  in  Edison,  Ohio,  is  agent  for 
the  Bee  Line,  Ohio  Central  &  Mt.  Gilead  Railroad. 
He  is  also  interested  in  farming  and  other  business, 
being,  like  his  father,  a  wide-awake  and  energetic 
man  who  never  spends  any  time  in  idleness. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  after  reaching  his  majority,  in 
the  meantime  receiving  a  good  education  and  com- 
pleting his  studies  in  the  High  School.  He  also 
learned  telegraphy  and  was  engaged  at  Delaware 
and  Crestline  with  the  Bee  Line  Railroad  Company, 
in  the  capacity  of  telegraph  operator .  and  ticket 
agent  for  twelve  years.  In  1866  he  engaged  in 
merchandising,  but  railroading  seemed  his  natural 
sphere,  and  going  to  Rochester,  Pa.,  he  engaged  as 
an  operator  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, remaining  four  years,  and  then  being  trans- 
ferred to  Dennison,  Ohio,  as  train  dispatcher.  Not 
long  afterward  he  was  made  chief  train  dispatcher, 
which  position  he  occupied  over  ten  years,  in  the 
meantime  having  been  appointed  manager  of  the 
telegraph  department.  In  February,  1882,  desiring 
to  come  West,  he  accepted  the  position  of  chief 
train  dispatcher  for  the  1.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.  Co.,  at 
Mattoon,  in  which  position  he  was  engaged  eight 
months  and  then  appointed  to  his  present  place. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


469 


His  long  experience  and  natural  adaptation  to  busi- 
ness of  this  kind,  have  rendered  him  a  valuable  and 
trusted  employe  of  a  great  and  responsible  corpora- 
tion. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  Miss  Marianne, 
daughter  of  William  H.  Boure,  of  Crestline,  Ohio, 
was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride's  parents, 
July  11,  1865.  Of  this  union  there  have  been  born 
two  children :  M.  Lee,  now  book-keeper  and  cashier 
for  George  N.  Buck,  a  dry-goods  merchant  of 
Mattoon ;  and  Edna  L.,  at  home  with  her  parents. 
The  family  residence  is  pleasantly  located  on 
Charleston  street,  and  our  subject  with  his  estima- 
ble lady,  now  enjoys  the  society  of  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances.  They  are  members  in 
good  standing  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which 
Mr.  Mozier  has  been  Elder  for  some  time.  Politi- 
cally, he  is  a  Republican,  and  socially,  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Knights  and  La- 
dies of  Honor.  He  has  some  property  in  the  city, 
and  is  Vice  President  of  the  Mattoon  Gas  and  Fuel 
Company. 


WILLIAM  J.  SHIELDS,  a  native  of  Coles 
County,  was  born  on  the  farm  of  his 
father,  in  Oakland  Township,  May  5,  1844, 
and  at  an  early  age  became  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  routine  of  "farm  life,  which  he  has  since 
followed  as  the  vocation  of  his  choice,  and  by 
means  of  which  he  has  built  up  a  good  home  and 
surrounded  himself  with  all  the  comforts  of  life. 
His  property  is  pleasantly  located  on  section  28,  in 
the  township  of  his  birth,  and  he  has  naturally  be- 
come identified  with  the  interests  of  the  people 
around  him,  both  socially  and  financially. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Sarah 
(Sublet)  Shields,  the  former  born  in  Jennings 
County,  Ind.,  Oct.  1,  1814.  The  mother  was  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  her  birth  taking  place  in  Garrard 
County,  July  28,  1819.  Both  came  to  Illinois  with 
their  parents  when  young  people,  and  were  married 
in  Charleston,  this  county,  in  October,  1835.  In 
due  time  they  became  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  seven  are  still  living:  Klzina  died 


in  infancy ;  Susanna  died  when  about  five  years  of 
age;  Rebecca  married  John  H.  Patton  and  lives 
near  Hinesboro,  111. ;  William  J.,  of  our  sketch,  was 
the  fourth  child;  James  died  young;  Lucinda  J. 
became  the  wife  of  Justin  H.  Hanley,  now  Sheriff 
of  Edgar  County ;  Jessie  M.  is  living  near  Camargo, 
Douglas  County;  Daniel;  Nancy  B.,  who  married 
J.  H.  Comstock,  and  Sarah  E.,  the  wife  of  Wilford 
Dean,  are  residents  of  Edgar  County ;  John  M.  died 
in  infancy.  John  Shields  officiated  for  a  period  of 
thirty  years  as  a  minister  of  the  Predestinarian 
Baptist  Church,  commencing  his  labors  at  Sugar 
Creek  Church,  in  1843.  His  standing  in  the  minis- 
try was  of  the  highest,  and  the  number  of  persons 
baptized  by  him  ran  up  into  the  hundreds.  He  was 
serving  the  Providence  Church  in  Edgar  County, 
when  death  overtook  him,  May  13,  1873. 

William  J.  Shields  received  but  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  his  youth,  attending  school  only  occasion- 
ally during  the  winter  season,  his  time  being 
otherwise  employed  on  his  father's  farm.  One  of 
the  most  important  events  of  his  early  manhood 
was  his  marriage,  which  took  place  Oct.  29,  1862, 
his  chosen  bride  being  Miss  Mary  E.  Buckler,  and 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  Coleman 
E.  Dawson,  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Of  this  union 
there  were  born  three  children — Jesse,  John  T.  and 
Alma  A.  The  mother  died  Feb.  22,  1877. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was 
married  Jan.  23,  1879,  Thomas  Wyatt,  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  officiating,  was  for- 
merly Miss  Ann  E.  Spry.  She  was  born  in  Ohio, 
Feb.  8,  1850,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Isaac  H.  and 
Catherine  (Hunter)  Spry,  both  also  born  in  Ohio, 
in  about  1818.  They  were  married  in  their  native 
State,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1857,  locating  near 
Murdock,  where  they  now  reside.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shields  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  Bertha.  Mr.  S., 
realizing  the  disadvantages  of  limited  schooling,  is 
giving  his  children  a  good  education,  and  fitting 
them  for  intelligent  and  useful  members  of  society. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Shields  left  him  forty  acres  of 
land,  which  he  afterward  sold,  and  purchased  his 
present  homestead  of  fifty  acres,  which  he  has  brought 
to  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation,  believing  with 
Horace  Greeley,  that  a  small  acreage  well  tilled  is 
more  advantageous  than  a  large  area  partially  neg-  ^ 


J 


470 


COLES   COUNTY. 


lected.  The  farm  buildings  are  convenient  and 
comfortable,  and  every  thing  about  the  premises  de- 
notes the  industry  and  thrift  of  the  proprietor. 


RTHUR  F.  HARMON,  a  prosperous  far- 
mer and  stock-raiser,  residing  on  section 
7,  Oakland  Township,  was  born  Oct.  4, 
1828,  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  and  Martha  (Vandyke)  Harmoni 
natives  of  Kentucky,  the  father  born  in  1800.  His 
parents  removed  to  Ohio  when  he  was  two  years  of 
age,  and  he  passed  his  life  there  engaged  in  farming. 
John  Harmon  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Chapman,  who  died  four  years  after 
their  marriage,  leaving  two  little  children  :  Cath- 
erine, who  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  and 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Wyse.  By  his  sec- 
ond marriage,  which  took  place  in  1826,  six  chil- 
dren were  born,  whose  record  is  as  follows:  Arthur 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Susan  is  the  wife  of 
George  Gregg;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Wyatt  Barr; 
John  has  been  thrice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss 
Molly  Carr;  after  her  death  he  was  married  the 
second  time,  to  Miss  Lida  Burton,  and  his  third 
marriage  was  with  Miss  Maria  Jennie  Coswell; 
Martha  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Dowden,  and  Eliza 
E.,  the  wife  of  James  Barr. 

Arthur  Harmon  was  married,  Feb.  4,  1852,  to 
Miss  Rebecca  Gregg.  Mrs.  Harmon  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Hiram  D.  and  Elizabeth  (Humlong)  Gregg, 
and  was  born  May  12,  1834,  in  Clermont  County, 
Ohio.  Mr.  Gregg  is  of  German  extraction,  and 
belongs  to  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Bracken 
County,  Ky.,  where  he  was  born  in  1805;  his  wife 
was  also  born  there,  in  1807.  They  subsequently 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  they  are  now  living.  Mr. 
Gregg  possessed  excellent  business  qualifications, 
was  prosperous  and  successful  in  farming,  and  ac- 
quired independence  and  ease,  in  which  to  pass  the 
closing  years  of  life.  He  is  a  public-spirited  man, 
and  in  his  earlier  life  possessed  great  influence  in 
the  public  affairs  of  the  community.  He  is  one  of 
the  pillars  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
•ivliich  he  has  been  Class-Leader  and  Steward  for 
many  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of 


the  Republican  party,  and  during  the  Civil  War 
was  devoted  to  the  Union  cause.  His  wife  has 
been  a  noble.  Christian  woman  throughout  her  life, 
having  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  church 
work,  and  in  her  home  has  been  an  affectionate 
wife  and  devoted  mother.  Their  family  consisted 
of  eleven  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows: 
Aaron  H.,  George  H.,  Rebecca,  Vincent  H.,  Samuel 
H.,  John  H.,  -Hiram  F.  and  Mary  E.,  twins,  and 
three  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harmon 
have  a  family  of  ten  children,  whose  record  is  as 
follows :  Mary  E..  the  wife  of  Milton  Garrison ; 
Mattie  B.,  the  wife  of  John  Yenawine ;  Luella ; 
Josie  M.,  the  wife  of  Ralph  D.  Dollar;  John  A.,  Ed- 
ward W.,  EfHe,  Ida,  Stanley  H.  and  Nellie  G. 

In  1869  Arthur  Harmon  came  to  Illinois,  and 
located  in  Edgar  County,  remaining  there  six 
years.  He  then  removed  to  Douglas  County,  but 
subsequently  sold  out,  and  in  1882  settled  on  his 
present  farm  in  this  county,  which  consists  of  236 
acres.  Mr.  Harmon  and  his  wife  are  highly  es- 
teemed members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  are  actively  interested  in  promoting 
its  interests.  In  politics  Mr.  Harmon  is  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party. 


bHOMAS  SENTENEY  has  been  a  resident  of 
Coles  County  for  more  than  thirty  years. 
His  estate,  located  on  section  27,  North 
Okaw  Township,  contains  eighty  acres  of  choice 
land.  He  was  born  May  16,  1819,  near  Maysville, 
Ky.,  and  is  the  son  of  Joab  and  Elizabeth  (Doing) 
Senteney.  His  great-grandfather,  John  Sentenej^, 
was  of  German  parentage,  although  born  in  the 
United  States.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Hyde,  a 
native  of  England,  and  they  made  their  home  in 
the  East,  dying  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  City. 
His  grandfather,  John  Senteney,  was  born  in 
1761,  in  New  Jersey,  and  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Houghton  took  place  there.  She  was 
likewise  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  In  the  year  1790 
he  moved  West  with  his  young  wife,  and  purchas- 
ing land  near  Maysville,  Ky.,  made  his  permanent 
home  there.  After  a  long  life  of  usefulness  his 
death  occurred  in  1835  at  a  ripe  old  age.  His 


COLES  COUNTY. 


471 


widow  survived  him  several  years,  and  passed  away 
in  1845.  Both  are  buried  in  the  Lawrence  Creek 
Cemetery,  near  Maysville.  Their  family  consisted 
of  seven  children — Thomas,  Joab,  Nancy,  Cather- 
ine, Charity,  Mary  and  Elijah,  all  of  whom  attained 
maturity  and  married.  John  Senteney  J;  and  his 
wife  were,  during  their  lifetime,  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  were  actively  engaged  in  pro- 
moting its  interests  and  building  up  the^cause  of 
Christ. 

Joab  Senteney  was  born  in  1794,  near  Maysville, 
Ky.  At  that  early  day  the  educational  advantages 
of  the  West  were  very  limited,  and  he  had  little 
opportunitj-  for  mental  cultivation.  Business  af- 
fairs required  his  father's  absence  from  home  most 
of  the  time,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  Joab  took 
charge  of  the  farm,  and  remained  on  the  home- 
stead until  his  father's  death.  His  marriage  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Doing  took  place  in  the  year  1816. 
Mrs.  Senteney  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Doing, 
and  was  born  in  Virginia. 

At  the  time  of  his  father's  death  Joab  Seuteney 
was  forty-four  years  of  age,  and,  taking  his  share 
of  the  estate,  went  to  Franklin  Count}',  lud..  where 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  timber  land,  which  he 
cleared  and  cultivated  for  about  five  years.  He 
then  disposed  of  his  interests  in  Indiana  and  re- 
moved l,o  Morgan  County,  111.  Renting  land  near 
Jacksonville  he  carried  on  a  successful  farming 
business  there  for  about  fourteen  years,  and  in  the 
autumn  of  1855  removed  to  that  part  of  Coles 
County  which  is  now  included  in  Douglas.  He 
there  entered  forty  acres,  which  he  improved  and 
cultivated,  making  that  place  his  home  for  life. 
Mr.  Senteney  was  active  and  industrious  in  busi- 
ness, and  successfully  passed  through  the  hardships 
and  privations  incident  to  pioneer  life,  in  two  dif- 
ferent States.  He  was  retiring  in  disposition,  and 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  his  home,  never  desir- 
ing to  mingle  in  public  affairs.  With  his  wife  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Having 
finished  his  life  work  he  died  in  1863.  His  widow 
survived  him  several  years  and  died  in  1875,  and 
they  both  lie  at  rest  in  the  old  Humbolt  burying- 
ground. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  nine  children: 
John,  deceased,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Bobbet; 


Thomas,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  Oliver  Huckstep;  Nancy  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen;  Robert  married  Miss  Jane  Fleming,  and 
resides  in  Guthrie  County,  Iowa;  William  married 
Miss  Minerva  Christman,  and  both  died,  leaving  a 
family  of  six  children;  Jacob  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth McNealy,  and  both  also  died,  leaving  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children;  Peter  G.,  deceased,  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Ellen  Hosteller;  Alary  is  the  wife  of 
Martin  Lathrop,  and  resides  in  this  State. 

Thomas  Senteney  attended  the  subscription 
schools  in  the  early  days,  which  afforded  but  mea- 
ger advantages  for  education.  He  was  a  bright, 
intelligent  boy,  and  possessed  a  natural  talent  for 
mechanical  work.  He  had  often  worked  with  his 
grandfather  in  his  shop,  and  became  very  skillful 
in  the  use  of  tools.  Circumstances,  however,  led 
him  to  follow  the  occupation  of  agriculture  rather 
than  mechanics,  and  he  remained  on  the  homestead 
assisting  his  father  on  the  farm  until  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Ann  Fleming,  which  took  place  April  27, 
1842.  Mrs.  Senteney  was  born  Sept.  8,  1824,  in 
Parke  County,  Ind.,and  is  the  daughter  of  Stephen 
and  Jane  (Kerr)  Fleming.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Senteney  removed  to  Morgan  County,  111.,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  rented  land  until  1847,  when 
he  purchased  forty-seven  acres  in  that  township. 
In  the  autumn  of  that  same  year  he  accidentally  cut 
his  foot  while  chopping  wood,  inflicting  a  severe 
wound,  which  has  ever  since  disabled  him  to  some 
extent.  In  1853  he  disposed  of  his  property  in 
Morgan  County,  and  entered  eighty  acres  in  North 
Okaw  Township,  on  the  day  after  Franklin  Pierce 
was  elected  to  the  Presidency.  He  took  possession 
of  the  place  with  his  family  the  February  follow- 
ing, and  has  since  made  his  home  here.  He  also 
owns  a  small  tract  of  timber  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Senteney  have  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  recorded  as  follows:  George  W.,  born  in 
July,  1843,  enlisted  in  1864  for  100  days'  service 
in  the  Civil  War,  and  was  stricken  down  with  the 
measles  during  his  absence,  and  died  Nov.  9,  1865, 
soon  after  reaching  home;  Melissa  died  in  infancy; 
John  T.  married  Miss  Louisa  Kelly,  and  resides  in 
Humbolt  County,  Cal. ;  Martha  died  in  infancy; 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  William  Beatty,  and  a  resident  of 
Douglas  County,  111. ;  Mark  married  Miss  Martha  A- 


472 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Trout,  and  resides  on  the  homestead,  managing  his 
father's  farm ;  Joab  died  in  infancy ;  James  L.  mar- 
ried Miss  Ida  Walker,  and  resides  in  this  county ; 
Julia,  Samuel  and  Emma  all  reside  at  home. 

Mr.  Senteney's  farm  is  well  improved,  and 
mostly  fenced  in  ten-acre  lots.  His  farm  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  in  the  State.  He  has  some 
tiling  on  the  place  and  a  substantial  frame  resi- 
dence with  good  farm  buildings.  With  his  wife  he 
has  been  throughout  life  a  consistent  member  of 
/the  Christian  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Senteney  is 
a  Republican,  and  is  active  in  sustaining  the  prin- 
ciples of  that  party.  He  is  interested  in  educa- 
tional affairs,  and  has  been  School  Trustee  for  ten 
years;  he  is  also  serving  his  second  term  as  School 
Director,  and  has  been  Assessor  one  term. 


Z~"  J.  BAIRD,  one  of  the  early  residents  of 
Coles  County,  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and 
'  stock-raiser,  owning  240  acres  of  finely  im- 
proved land  in  Humbolt  Township.  He  was  born 
Nov.  4,  1833,  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Black)  Baird.  His  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Ohio,  where  his  maternal  grand- 
mother, Hester  Council,  died  at  the  age  of  niuety- 
seven.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Baird, 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was  noted 
for  his  musical  talent,  and  the  story  is  related  of 
him,  that  once,  when  stationed  at  a  fort,  he  brought 
out  his  violin  and  played  a  lively  tune  for  the 
young  folks  to  keep  time  to. with  their  feet.  That 
night  the  Indians  had  planned  to  surround  the  fort 
and  destroy  it,  but,  pleased  and  almost  spellbound 
by  the  marvelous  strains  of  music,  so  new  to  them, 
they  became  absorbed  in  listening,  and  finally  with- 
drew, their  savage  natures  quelled  and  awed  by  the 
power  of  music.  John  Baird  was  a  farmer,  but 
during  the  lougj  cold  winters,  he  was  engaged  in 
shoemaking  and  was  successful  in  both  branches  of 
business.  He  was  active  and  industrious,  and  after 
along  and  useful  life  died  in  his  native  State. 

Z.  J.  Baird  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  assist- 
ing his  father  and  attending  the  district  school.    At 
the  age  of  twenty-two,   he  engaged  in  farming  for 
-himself,  and  the  following  year,  F.eb.  5,    18f>7,  lie 


was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Easter.  Mrs.  Baird 
is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Ritchie) 
Easter.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
of  German  descent,  and  are  both  deceased.  In  the 
fall  following  his  marriage,  Mr.  Baird  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  company  with  John  Moore,  and  settled  in 
Coles  County,  on  a  farm  belonging  to  Mr.  Moore, 
which  he  rented  for  a  term  of  seven  years.  He  was 
successful  in  this  enterprise,  and  in  1863  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  wild  land  on  section  20,  in  Hum- 
bolt  Township,  on  which  he  built  a  shanty  in  primi- 
tive style  and  occupied  it  with  his  young  family. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baird  have  a  family  of  ten  children, 
whose  record  is  as  follows :  Eva  N.,  Clara  M.,  Will- 
iam Henry,  Franklin  A.,  Thomas  D.,  Maggie  Belle, 
Lida  May,  Bertie  Almira,  Lulu  Maud  and  Mary  F. 
Eva  N.  married  John  S.  Branham,  and  is  now  a 
widow.  The  others  all  reside  at  home. 

In  conducting  his  farm,  Mr.  Baird  gives  special 
attention  to  raising  high-grade  cattle.  He  owns 
some  of  the  finest  Clydesdale  and  Norman  horses 
in  the  township  and  also  a  very  fine  assortment  of 
Poland-China  hogs.  Mr.  Baird  has  never  taken  an 
active  part  in  politics,  but  is  interested  in  educa- 
tional affairs,  and  has  served  as  School  Director  for 
many  years,  and  also  as  Road  Commissioner.  He 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Baird  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  the  former  has  served  several 
terms  as  Trustee. 


ACOB  I.  BROWN,  publisher  of  the  Charleston 
Courier,  is  a  native  of  Jonesboro,  Washing- 
ton Co.,  Teun.,  his  birth  taking  place  Oct. 
12,  1819.  His  parents,  John  and  Rachel 
Brown,  were  natives  respectively  of  Tennessee  and 
North  Carolina,  the  former  of  English  and  the  lat- 
ter of  German  descent.  John  Brown  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  in  about  1822  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Indiana,  where  his  father  departed  this 
life  in  November,  1823.  The  mother  died  in 
Charleston,  111.,  April  24,  1867. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  passed  his  early  years 
after  the   manner  of  most  farmers'  sous,  going  a 


t. 


COLES    COUNTY. 


473 


barefoot  boy  to  the  district  school,  and  early  be- 
coming acquainted  with  the  various  employments 
of  farm  life.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  went  to 
Bloomington,  Ind.,  to  learn  the  printer's  trade,  and 
was  in  the  office  of  Mark  Deal  about  four  years. 
His  first  work  as  a  journeyman  was  in  Indianapolis, 
where  he  remained  during  the  winter  of  1837.  In 
the  spring  he  returned  to  the  residence  of  his 
mother  in  Bloomington,  and  occupied  himself  in  a 
printing-office  there  until  the  spring  of  1840.  Then, 
in  company  with  Ephraim  Abbott,  he  came  to 
Paris,  Edgar  County,  and  they  purchased  the  Illi- 
nois Statesman,  which  they  conducted  two  years. 
Mr.  Brown  then  purchased  the  interest  of  his  part- 
ner, and  subsequently  took  in  John  B.  Alexander, 
and  they  operated  together  until  the  fall  of  1844, 
when  Mr.  Brown  again  assumed  entire  control,  and 
removed  the  plant  to  Charleston,  where  he  com- 
menced issuing  a  paper  entitled  the  Investigator. 
In  connection  with  this  he  also  published  a  relig- 
ious periodical,  edited  by  Rev.  Richard  Newport. 

Mr.  Brown,  in  1845,  was  elected  Assessor  for 
Coles  County,  and  the  following  year  sold  a  half 
interest  in  his  paper  to  W.  D.  Latshaw.  The  name 
was  changed  to  the  Illinois  Globe,  a  title  which  Mr. 
A.  had  given  ta  another  paper  published  by  him 
previously.  This  arrangement  continued  about 
eight  years,  and  Mr.  Brown  then  sold  his  interest  to 
Mr.  Latshaw,  in  order  to  enter  upon  his  duties  as 
Postmaster  of  Charleston,  which  office  he  occupied 
under  the  administrations  of  Polk,  Pierce  and 
Buchanan.  Mr.  Brown  also,  in  connection  with 
this  office,  carried  on  a  grocery  and  drug  business. 
In  the  fall  of  1861,  having  been  succeeded  by  the 
appointment  of  a  Republican  to  the  office,  he  was 
elected  Countj'  Clerk  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  in 
which  position  he  served  four  years,  being  subse- 
quently defeated  by  the  election  of  a  Republican. 
Upon  retiring  from  this  office  he  embarked  in  mer- 
chandising, but  this  venture  not  proving  satisfac- 
tory, he  became  a  candidate  for  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  to  which  office  he  was  elected  in  1868,  and 
which  he  still  holds,  receiving  his  first  and  last 
commissions  from  Gov.  Oglesby. 

Mr.  Brown,  in  the  fall  of  1881,  purchased  an  in- 
terest in  the  Courier,  which  he  still  holds,  his  part- 
ner being  Lucian  Dunbar.  The  Courier,  under  the 


supervision  of  Mr.  Brown,  has  become  one  of  the 
indispensable  features  of  Charleston,  and  is  liberally 
supported  by  the  people  of  Coles  County  generally. 
He  is  an  old  and  experienced  newspaper  man,  and 
never  feels  so  much  at  home  as  when  conducting  an 
i  institution  of  this  kind. 

The  marriage  of  Jacob  I.  Brown  and  Miss  Ann 
E.  Javins  was  celebrated  at  tin  home  of  the  bride's 
uncle,  in  Charleston,  on  the  24th  of  June,  1845. 
Mrs.  B.  was  born  near  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Matilda  Javins.  They  have 
no  children. 

The  politics  of  Mr.  Brown  is  clearly  indicated  in 
the  columns  of  the  Courier,  which  fearlessly  advo- 
cates Democratic  principles,  is  the  stanch  sup- 
porter of  truth  and  justice,  and  in  all  its  theories 
and  arguments  keeps  prominently  in  view  the  mat- 
ters and  things  mostly  concerning  the  welfare  of 
the  general  public. 


C.  RICE,  a  prosperous  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  residing  on  section  22,  North  Okaw 
Township,  was  born  Oct.  15,  1840,  in  Vigo 
County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  Amos  and 
Sarah  (Compton)  Rice.  (For  history  of  parents 
see  sketch  of  Amos  Rice,  Sr.)  Mr.  Rice  is  the  de- 
scendant of  a  pioneer  family,  and  his  early  life  was 
passed  under  great  educational  disadvantages.  The 
old  log  school-houses  of  the  early  days  in  Indiana 
and  Illinois,  were  the  only  temples  of  learning 
wherein  the  children  of  the  pioneersjcould  obtain 
even  the  scant  rudiments  of  education. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  and  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  about  thirty  years 
of  age,  when  his  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Clieck- 
ley  took  place,  Oct.  6.  1870.  Mrs.  Rice  was  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Crum)  Check- 
ley.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  England,  and 
probably  the  only  one  of  the  family  who  ever  came 
to  America,  as  none  of  their  names  are  traceable 
here.  He  was  formerly  a  resident  of  Indiana,  but 
about  the  year  1854  came  to  Coles  County,  111., 
where  he  passed  the  remaining  years  of  his  life. 
Mrs.  Rice  was  born  in  this  county  Oct.  11,  1 


I 


474 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Rice,  with  his 
wife,  settled  on  the  homestead  which  had  always 
been  her  home. 

After  a  happy  married  life  of  fourteen  years  his 
beloved  wife  died,  in  December,  1884.  Mrs.  Rice 
never  possessed  a  very  robust  physique,  and  her 
death  resulted  from  quick  consumption.  She  was  a 
devoted  wife,  an  affectionate  mother,  and  was  be- 
loved by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  She  possessed  a 
lovely  Christian  character,  and  bore  the  constant 
suffering  of  a  year's  illness  with  gentle,  uncomplain- 
ing patience.  The  home  circle  has  been  desolate 
since  her  death,  but  Mr.  Rice  kept  the  little  family 
together  at  home,  with  the  aid  of  his  eldest  daugh- 
ter, and  a  half  sister,  who  makes  her  home  with 
them,  and  has  charge  of  the  house.  Their  family 
consisted  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. Ignatia,  Elmer  E.,  Thomas  E.,  Lawrence  E., 
Amos  E.,  Job  C.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  stock-raising  Mr.  Rice  gives  special  attention 
to  Clydesdale  horses  and  cattle  of  the  Durham 
stock.  He  is  industrious  and  energetic,  and  car- 
ries on  a  successful  business.  He  has  been  elected 
to  several  official  positions  of  the  township  by  the 
Democratic  party,  of  which  he  is  a  loyal  member, 
and  has  served  as  Trustee  four  years,  Collector 
three  years,  and  Constable  two  years,  proving  faith- 
ful and  efficient  in  the  discharge  of  his  public  du- 
ties, lie  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
A  view  of  the  homestead  of  Mr.  Rice  is  given  in 
connection  with  this  sketch. 


RS.  MARTHA  P.  KERN  is  the  widow  of 
Ambrose  Kern,  formerly  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Mattoon.  She  is  descended  from 
New  England  lineage,  from  which  source 
so  many  noble  women,  faithful  wives  and  self-sacri- 
ficing mothers  on  the  Western  frontier,  have  sprung, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  Eliphalet  and  Amelia  (Lem- 
ons) Pearson,  the  former  a  native  of  Massachusetts 
rind  the  latter  of  Indiana.  Her  grandfather,  like- 
wise Eliphalet  Pearson,  was  a  native  of  Boston. 
Mass.  Her  father,  Eliphalet  Pearson,  had  received 
:\  practical  education  in  childhood,  and  when  four- 
teen years  of  age,  he  left  home  and  went  to  Jeffer- 


sonville,  Ind..  where  he  married  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business,  continuing  in  that  occupation  un- 
til 1821.  He  then  removed  to  Springville,  Lawrence 
County,  and  there  opened  a  wholesale  and  retail 
dry-goods  house.  He  remained  in  this  place  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1862.  His  widow  is 
still  living  at  Bedford,  Lawrence  County,  having 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  four  now  living. 
In  1841  Mrs.  Kern  w;is  married  to  Madison 
Paugh,  a  native  of  Bloomington,  Ind.  Mr.  Paugh 
was  a  merchant  in  Springville,  Ind.,  and  died  in 
1 850.  One  son  was  born  of  this  marriage — Walter 
Paugh,  a  resident  of  Columbus  Junction,  Iowa. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Kate  Neeley,  of  Pitts 
burgh,  Pa.,  and  has  one  son — Charles. 

Mrs.  Paugh's  marriage  to  Ambrose  Kern  took 
place  in  1  858,  in  Springville,  Ind.  Mr.  Kern,  for- 
merly a  resident  of  Bedford,  owned  a  large  farm 
at  Fayetteville,  where  he  had  been  extensively  en- 
gaged in  stock-dealing.  He  was  a  man  of  excellent 
business  qualifications,  and  in  1862  came  to  Mat- 
toon,  and  during  his  residence  here  was  engaged 
in  the  dry -goods  business,  identifying  himself  with 
the  interests  of  the  city  throughout  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  his  uprightness  in  business,  and 
geniality  in  social  life,  endearing  him  to  a  large  cir- 
cle of  friends.  He  erected  several  valuable  build- 
ings for  mercantile  purposes  on  Broadway,  and  was 
a  stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank.  He 
voted  with  the  Republican  party,  and  took  an  act- 
ive interest  in  municipal  affairs,  serving  on  the 
City  Board  several  times,  and  also  as  Alderman. 

By  her  last  marriage  Mrs.  Kern  had  a  family  of 
three  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  Min- 
nie, the  wife  of  Robert  Jordon,  is  the  mother  of 
one  child,  Frank;  Charles  is  a  graduate  of  the  Com- 
mercial College  at  Terre  Haute.  Ind.,  and  is  now 
a  resident  of  Kansas  City,  engaged  in  business  with 
the  firm  of  Abernethy  &  Co.,  wholesale  furniture 
dealers. 

Mrs.  Kern  was  deprived  of  her  beloved  husband, 
by  death,  in  1879.  She  possesses  a  sincere  Christian 
character  and  cultivated  mind,  and  is  actively  in- 
terested in  promoting  the  cause  of  Christ  in  tbe 
Methodist  Church,  of  which  she  is  a  highly  esteemed 
member.  She  is  also  warmly  interested  in  the  tern- 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


475 


perance  cause,  and  is  a  member  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
Mrs.  Kern  is  a  stockholder  in  the  First  National 
Bank,  and  manages  her  property  and  business  affairs 
with  excellent  judgment. 


|]  OHN  SPITLER,  a  retired  farmer  living  on 
section  5,  Hutton  Township,  is  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Coles  County.  He  was 
born  July  12,  182G,  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio,  and  is  the  sou  of  John  and  Sarah  (Caldwell) 
Spitler.  His  paternal  grandfather,  whose  name 
likewise  was  John  Spitler,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  emigrated  to  Fairfield  County,  Ohio.  His 
marriage  took  place  in  Virginia,  and  a  family  of 
seven  children  was  born  to  them  —  David,  Samuel, 
John,  Henry,  Lydia,  Rebecca,  and  a  daughter  who 
became  Mrs.  Hoover.  The  grandparents  lived  to 
a  good  old  age,  and  died  in  Fairfield  County. 
The}'  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

John  Spitler,  Sr.,  was  born  Sept.  25,  1805,  in 
Rockingham  County,  Va.  He  received  only  a 
common-school  education,  and  remained  at  home 
assisting  his  parents  on  the  farm  until  his  marriage. 
He  was  a  young  man  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  his  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Caldwell, 
who  was  likewise  a  native  of  Rockingham  County, 
Va.,  took  place  after  their  removal  to  Fairfield 
County.  After  this  event  Mr.  Spitler  passed  a 
few  years  engaged  in  farming  on  his  father's 
property.  He  then  purchased  a  hotel,  of  which  he 
was  the  proprietor  for  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  but 
in  a  hazardous  business  venture  lost  both  his  own 
and  his  father's  property  by  going  security  for. 
other  parties  who  failed.  Crippled  by  these  re- 
verses he  then  rented  land,  and  for  two  years  was 
engaged  in  farming.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  rented  a  hotel  in  Salem,  which  he  managed 
for  two  years.  His  health  was  then  failing  and  he 
only  lived  one  year  after  leaving  the  hotel.  His 
death  occurred  Jan.  12,  1843,  in  Salem,  Ohio. 

The  father  of  our  subject  had  been  twice  mar- 
ried. His  first  wife  died  Oct.  7,  1837,  while  he 
was  proprietor  of  the  first  hotel,  in  Pleasantville, 
Ohio.  After  her  death  he  married  Mrs.  Nancy 
Mock.  She  survived  him,  and  is  still  living  in 
Indiana.  The  record  of  the  children  by  the  first 


marriage  is  as  follows:  Mary  was  born  in  Fair- 
field  County,  Ohio,  and  became  the  wife  of  John 
Fanning;  she  died,  leaving  three  children,  and  her 
husband  resides  in  Iroquois  County,  III.  John  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Samuel  R.,  born  May 
12,  1829,  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Ball,  and  both  are 
deceased,  leaving  three  children;  Andrew  J.,  born 
Nov.  4,  1831,  married  Miss  Mary  Conner,  who 
died  leaving  five  children;  he  married  the  second 
time,  and  resides  in  Trenton,  Mo.  Elizabeth,  born 
in  1833,  is  the  wife  of  William  Knoke,  resides  in 
Bellevue,  Ohio,  and  has  two  childre.i.  By  the  sec- 
ond marriage  one  daughter  was  born,  Rebecca, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 

John  Spitler,  Jr.,  was  about  seventeen  years  of 
age  when  his  father  died.  He  had  attended  the 
common  schools  during  his  boyhood,  but  was  now 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  his  father  having 
suffered  from  financial  losses,  and  died  possessed  of 
but  little  means.  However,  he  resolutely  set  to 
work  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  woolen  manufact- 
urer. After  his  apprenticeship  was  over  he  was 
occupied  in  that  business  for  about  fifteen  years. 
On  the  3d  of  October,  1847,  Mr.  Spitler  was  married 
to  Miss  Millie  Beery.  Mrs.  Spitler  was  born  Oct.  6, 
1 829,  in  Rockingham  County,  Va.,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Jemima  (Spicer)  Beery. 
Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Virginia,  and  a 
few  years  after  their  marriage  removed  to  Fairfield 
County.  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Beery  purchased  land 
and  made  his  permanent  home.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Beery  married  the  second 
time.  By  the  first  marriage  thirteen  children  were 
born:  Annie  is  the  widow  of  William  Her;  Millie 
is  the  wife  of  our  subject;  David  died  in  child- 
hood; Catharine,  the  wife  of  W.  H.  Dodds,  resides 
in  Hutton  Township;  Barbara  K.  is  married,  and 
resides  in  Ohio;  Mary  Frances,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Isaac  Featheroff,  a  resident  of  Ohio; 
William  enlisted  in  an  Ohio  regiment  for  three 
years'  service  in  the  Civil  War,  but  in  one  year 
was  stricken  down  and  died  of  fever;  Joseph  died 
in  childhood ;  John  is  married  and  resides  in 
Florida;  Margaret  died  in  childhood,  and  three  in 
infancy. 

A  few  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Spitler  left 
the  woolen-mills,  and  in  the  spring  of  1  «,"><; 


476 


COLES   COUNTY. 


moved  to  Coles  County,  111.,  making  the  long,  and 
toilsome  overland  journey  with  his  wife  and  three 
little  children  by  team.  On  his  arrival  here  he 
settled  in  Hutton  ToVnship,  and  in  the  intervening 
time  has  bought  and  sold  several  farms.  In  1877 
he  purchased  the  place  where  he  now  resides,  and 
in  the  following  year  took  possession,  with  his 
family.  The  farm  contains  159£  acres,  all  of 
which  is  well  improved;  he  also  owns  twenty-four 
acres  of  timbered  land,  located  on  section  7, 
Hutton  Township.  Mr.  Spitler  has  never  enjoyed 
vigorous  health,  and  during  the  last  twenty  years 
has  not  been  actively  engaged  in  farming,  his  sons 
managing  the  farm  work  almost  entirely.  During 
the  last  year  he  has  suffered  seriously  from  chronic 
bronchitis,  which  has  confined  him  to  the  house. 
His  family  consisted  of  seven  children.  Their 
first-born  child  died  in  infancy;  Mary  E.,  born 
March  17,  1850,  died  Aug.  19,  1854;  Ida  E.,  born 
July  26,  1851.  married  Arch  Smith,  and  resides  on 
the  homestead;  William  A.,  born  Oct.  9,  1853, 
died  Sept.  11,  1854;  Alva  B.,  born  May  26,  1855,' 
was  married,  Jan.  20,  1884,  to  Miss  Rosa  Gilbert, 
and  resides  in  Hutton  Township;  Frederick  I,., 
born  on  Christmas  Day,  1858,  was  married,  Dec.  7, 
1879,  to  Miss  Juda  C.  Martin,  and  resides  on  the 
homestead;  Benjamin  F.,  born  Feb.  8,  1863,,  was 
married  Feb.  20,  1885.  to  Miss  Catherine  Scott, 
and  likewise  resides  on  the  homestead.  With  his 
wife,  Mr.  Spitler  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church.  In  politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 


EVI  DOTY,  deceased,  formerly  a  resident 
of  Charleston  Township  and  an  early  settler 
of  Coles  County,  is  worthy  of  an  honorable 
place  among  the  pioneers  of  Illinois.  By  native 
force  of  character  he  struggled  successfully  against 
disadvantages,  and  won  from  the  wilderness  of  the 
Western  frontier  a  home  for  himself  and  a  heritage 
for  his  children.  He  was  born  in  Butler  Count}-, 
Ohio,  Jan.  26,  1806,  and  was  the  son  of  John  and 
Anna  (Mann)  Doty.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
Maryland,  and  in  about  the.  yenr  1818  they  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  locating  in  Crawford  County, 


where  his  father's  death  occurred,  and  in  1826, 
Levi  removed  with  his  widowed  mother  to  Coles 
County. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  six  children, 
whose  record  is  as  follows:  Levi,  Samuel,  James, 
Sarah,  Isaac  and  Anna;  the  three  latter  deceased. 
Upon  their  arrival  in  Coles  County,  Levi  Doty 
assisted  his  mother  in  carrying  on  a  farm,  and  also 
worked  by  the  month  for  the  neighbors,  when  his 
help  was  not  required  at  home.  There  was  stern, 
uncompromising  work  to  be  done  in  those  early 
days,  and  done  also  through  great  inconvenience  and 
privation.  Enough  can  hardly  be  said  in  praise  of  the 
stout  hearts  and  willing  hands  of  those  whose  enter- 
prise and  courage  subdued  the  wilderness,  and  made 
a  highway  which  has  led  to  the  present  prosperity  of 
Illinois.  There  were  neither  school  advantages  nor 
time  for  study,  and  Levi  had  no  opportunity  to 
learn  to  read  until  after  his  marriage,  when  his  wife 
became  his  teacher. 

April  20,  1829,  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss 
Matilda  Phipps,  who  was  born  in  Lawrence  Coun- 
ty, Ind.,  Oct.  17,  1812.  Previous  to  his  marriage, 
he  had  by  hard  work  and  economy,  earned  enough 
money  to  purchase  a  farm  containing  forty-five 
acres  of  unimproved  land,  and  here  in  the  wilder- 
ness he  built  a  log  cabin,  and  with  his  young  wife, 
proud  in  the  possession  of  land  that  he  could  call 
his  own,  set  resolutely  to  work  upon  his  small  king- 
dom, trusting  in  God  and  his  own  right  hand.  He 
was  industrious  and  painstaking  and  with  a  care- 
ful wife  to  share  his  burdens,  it  was  not  long  before 
he  became  the  owner  of  425  acres  of  land_. 
•  January  23,  1853,  his  wife,  the  companion  of  his 
early  pioneer  life,  was  taken  from  the  home  circle 
by  death.  She  was  the  mother  of  nine  children, 
whose  record  is  as  follows:  Harriet  A.,  deceased, 
formerly  the  wife  of  Alex.  Ferris ;  Mary  J.,  deceased, 
formerly  the  wife  of  Levi  Watson;  Cynthia  A.,  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Doty;  Melinda,  deceased,  formerly 
the  wife  of  John  W.  Doty;  Amanda,  who  became 
the  wife  of  John  W.  Doty,  her  deceased  sister's 
husband ;  Loisa,  deceased,  was  formerly  the  wife  of 
M.  T.  Freeman;  John  M.;  Sarah,  deceased,  and 
Irvin  A.  Mr.  Doty  was  married  the  second  time, 
to  Mrs.  Melinda  White,  the  sister  of  his  former 
wife.  She  died  Oct.  16,  1865,  leaving  four  chil- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


477 


dren:  James;  Lavina  and  Samuel,  deceased,  and 
Joseph.  Oct.  30,  1866,  Mr.  Doty  was  married- the 
third  time,  to  Mrs.  Lillis  (White)  Oillett.  She  had  a 
family  of  seven  children  by 'her  first  marriage,  two 
of  whom  are  now  living — John  Ira  and  Alrneda. 

Mr.  Doty  gave  his  attention  closely  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits  until  1875,  when  he  was  obliged  to 
discontinue  active  business  on  account  of  rheuma- 
tism, and  since  1884  was  confined  to  his  bed,  unable 
to  walk.  He  gave  each  of  his  children  a  portion 
of  his  property,  affording  them  a  good  start  in  life. 
Mr.  Doty  voted  for  Andrew  Jackson  early  in  life, 
and  always  sustained  the  Democratic  party  as  long 
as  he  was  able  to  attend  the  polls.  He  served  in 
public  affairs  as  Commissioner  of  Highways  and 
School  Director,  and  for  nearly  half  a  century  had 
been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  after  a 
long  life  of  usefulness  and  toil,  of  which  his  chil- 
dren are  reaping  the  benefits,  feeble  and  worn  in 
the  strife,  he  passed  away  July  14,  1887,'deeply  re- 
gretted by  his  family  and  numerous  friends. 


ISAAC  N.  ROBERTS  is  a  farmer  and  prominent 
resident  of  Ashmore  Township,  located  on  sec- 
tion 16.  He  was  born  Jan.  6,  1846,  in  Muskin- 
gum  County,  Ohio,  andjs  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Alice  (Mock)  Roberts.  (For  history  of  "parents  see 
sketch  of  William  II.  Roberts.)  Isaac  N.  Roberts 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Almeda  Davis, 
Feb.  3,  1867.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Elizabeth  (Bowers);  Da  vis,  and  was.  born  Dec.  24, 
1845,  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  of  which  State 
her  parents  were  both  natives.  Her  family  settled 
there  at  an  early  day,  and  her  father  was  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers  of  the  county.  He  was  born  in 
1813  and  died  in  1864.  His  wife,  who  was  also 
born  in  1813,  is  still  living.  They  were  both  mem- 
bers and  active  workers  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  Mr.  Davis  was  for  many  years 
Class-Leader  and  Steward.  They  had  a  family  of 
nine  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows :  Caroline, 
Almeda,  Cyrus,  Azariah,  Samuel,  [Matilda,  Mary, 
Harriet  and  Bray. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.   Isaac    Roberts    had   a  family   of 
eight  children   born   to  them,  whose  names  are  as 


follows:  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (twins),  the  latter  de- 
ceased ;  Thomas  W.,  Tenette  A.,  Leota,  Harlin  A.. 
Lnla  J.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Roberts 
owns  120  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  ten  acres  of 
timber  land.  In  1878  he  erected  a  pleasant  farm 
residence,  which  he  improved  in  1883  by  building 
an  addition.  It  is  a  commodious  and  tasteful  two- 
story  dwelling,  a  view  of  which  is  given  elsewhere 
in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Roberts  is  actively  interested  in  the  affairs 
of  the  county  and  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  religious  organization  he  has  been 
for  several  years  Class-Leader  and  Steward.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  three 
years,  and  is  now  one  of  its  most  faithful  teachers. 
He  holds  the  office  of  School  Director,  and  in 
politics,  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


ELIAS  MONROE,  the  County  Treasurer,  has 
been  for  many  years  a  well-known  resident 
of  Charleston.  He  was  born  Feb.  7,  1842, 
in  Shelby  County,  111.,  and  is  the  son  of  David  and 
Elizabeth  (Deeds)  Monroe.  His  father  was  in 
early  life  a  resident  of  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  milling.  He  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Shelby  County,  where  he  successfully  operated  a 
ttouring-mill  for  several  years.  Thence  he  went  to 
Moultrie  County,  where  his  death  occurred.  His 
family  consisted  of  three  children,  of  whom  Elias 
is  the  only  survivor. 

Elias  Monroe  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  after 
the  death  of  his  parents  worked  for  his  uncle,  Isaac 
Monroe,  a  farmer  residing  in  Moultrie  Count}'.  In 
1801  he  came  to  Coles  County,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  59th  III. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  eighteen  months.  He  was  a 
mere  boy  of  twenty-one  before  whom  life  was  just 
opening,  but  he  bravely  offered  it  in  the  service  of 
his  country,  not  knowing  how  costly  the  sacrifice 
might  prove.  He  was  engaged  in  several  impor- 
tant battles,  in  one  of  which  he  received  a  shot 
through  the  right  shoulder,  and  in  the  battle  of 
Nashville,  Dec.  15,  1804,  he  received  a  wound  in 
the  right  leg,  which  rendered  amputation  necessary. 
This  misfortune  ended  his  career  in  the  war,  and  he 


478 


COLES   COUNTY. 


returned  to  this  county  where  he  attended  school 
six  months.  His  affliction  debarring  him  from 
phj'sical  exertion,  he  turned  his  attention  to  mental 
cultivation,  and  attended  school  at  Fulton  two 
years,  and  on  his  return,  was  offered  the  position 
of  Postmaster  at  Ashmore,  which  office  he  re- 
tained until  Dec.  25,  1885,  when  he  was  elected 
County  Treasurer.  During  his  residence  in  Ash- 
more  he  held  the  offices  of  Town  Clerk  and  Alder- 
man, and  purchased  a  farm  of  Sfty-two  and 
one-half  acres  in  that  township. 

In  1881  Mr.  Monroe  was  married  to  Miss  N.  E. 
Lockridge,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  they  have  a 
family  of  three  children — Chester  A.,  Dessie  E. 
and  Josie  E.  Mr.  Monroe  is  a  man  of  much  in- 
fluence in  the  county,  and  possesses  the  respect  of 
all  who  know  him.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 


ETER  K.  HONN  is  a  retired  farmer,  resid- 
i]  ing  in  the  village  of  Ashmore.     His  life  is 


an  example  of  what  may  be  accomplished 
by  courage,  enterprise[and  industry,  unaid- 
ed by  any  other  means.  He  was  born  July  22,  1814, 
in  Nicholas  County,  Ky.,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel 
and  Annie  (Ebberman)  Honn,  the  former  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  Both 
are  now  deceased. 

Peter  K.  Honn  is  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 
Illinois,  having  come  to  the  State  in  1835.  He  at 
once  located  in  Ashmore  Township,  and  bravely 
commenced  a  struggle  with  the  wilderness  without 
a  cent  in  his  pocket,  but  possessed  of  a  stout  heart 
and  strong  hand,  by  which  he  has  successfully 
carved  his  way  to  prosperity.  He  has  given  each 
of  his  children  a  valuable,  well-improved  farm, 
and  is  also  the  owner  of  one  himself,  although  he 
resides  in  the  village.  June  23,  1837,  he  married 
Miss  Matilda  Woods,  a  native  of  Madison  Count}', 
Ky.,  born  April  17,  1817.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Mary  (Kerby)  Woods,  natives  of 
Kentucky,  where  her  father  owned  a  fine  farm. 
He  died  in  October,  1829,  at  the  age  of  forty-five; 
his  widow  survived  him  many  years,  and  died  in 
1859,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  She  was  a  lad}' 


greatly  beloved  by  her  family  and  friends,  and  for 
many  years  had  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  the 
record  of  whom  is  as  follows:  William  first  mar- 
ried Miss  Dorcas  Gideon;  he  then  married'  Miss 
Eliza  Williamson,  and  is  now  deceased.  Tirza, 
who  married  Green  Epperson,  is  now  a  widow. 
Patsy  became  the  wife  of  Fred  Schaal;  Nancy  died 
in  girlhood;  Matilda  is  the  wife  of  our  subject; 
Mary  A.  is  deceased ;  Sarah  was  married  to  Mr. 
William  Gilmau,  and  is  now  deceased;  Hawkins  P. 
married  Julia  A.  Bull  and  is  now  deceased;  Eliza 
became  the  wife  of  Thomas  C.  Sherwood,  and  is 
now  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Honn  have  a  family  of  six  children, 
as  follows :  W  illiam  S.  married  Mary  Noe ;  Martha 
A.  is  the  wife  of  David  R.  Bane;  Peter  K.  died  in 
manhood;  Sarah  E.  married  F.  M.  Shaver;  Samuel 
H.  married  Nellie  Graham;  Mary  E.  is  now  Mrs. 
R.  L.  Tremble.  Samuel  H.  Honn,  the  son  of  our 
subject,  early  evinced  a  desire  for  professional  life. 
He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Steel,  in  Ashmore, 
and  afterward  graduated  at  Rush  Medical  College, 
Chicago,  and  has  been  for  several  years  success- 
fully practicing  medicine  in  Edgar  County,  111. 

Peter  K.  Honn  is  a  man  of  much  intelligence 
and  mental  vigor.  He  is  a  close  student  of  all  the 
topics  of  the  day,  social,  religious  and  political, 
and  having  a  logical  turn  of  mind  has  been  in- 
terested in  investigating  their  various  theories 
during  the  last  forty  years,  while  occupying  the 
pulpit  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  became  a 
member  of  that  religious  denomination  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  and  his  wife  united  with  the  same  church 
when  twenty  years  old.  He  is  considered  a  reliable 
authority  in  regard  to  all  doctrinal  matters,  and  is 
also  possessed  of  great  •  judgment  and  tact  in 
managing  Church  difficulties.  From  boyhood  he 
has  been  a  faithful  servant  of  the  Master,  and  has 
administered  the  rite  of  baptism  to  many  who 
have  been  led  by  him  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

Mr.  Honn  has  always  been  actively  interested  in 
the  public  affairs  of  the  township,  and  has  held 
several  positions  on  the  Official  Board.  In  his 
early  life  he  served  as  Postmaster  three  years.  He 
was  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  one 
year,  and  Vice  President  of  the  Agricultural  Society 


COLES   COUNTY. 


479 


three  years,  and  has  also  been  School  Director  and 
Trustee  for  many  years.  He  has  been  Foreman  of 
the  Grand  Jury  for  a  number  of  years  and  was 
Justice  of  the  Peace  four  terms;  during  his  entire 
life  he  has  been  one  of  the  most  important  factors 
in  the  affairs  of  the  township  and  county.  Until 
the  Civil  War  broke  out  he  had  been  an  old 
Kentucky  Bourbon  Democrat,  but  then  he  was  a 
strong  Union  man  and  subsequently  joined  the 
Republican  party,  of  which  he  is  now  a  stanch 
supporter.  He  is  warmly  interested  in  the  temper- 
ance cause,  and  has  been  a  tetotaler  for  twenty-five 
years.  The  life  of  Peter  K.  Honn  is  its  own  com- 
mentary, expressive  of  what  may  be  accomplished 
in  this  favored  land  by  courage,  enterprise,  econ- 
omy and  good  principles. 


N.  McMORRLS  is  a  merchant  of  Diona,  and 
a  worthy  descendant  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  Coles  County.  He  was  born 
A"g-  31,  1845>  in  tnis  township,  on  the 
section  where  he  now  resides,  and  is  the  son  of 
Joseph  and  Martha  (Leming)  McMorris.  His 
grandfather,  John  McMorris,  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  his  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Kackley, 
who  was  likewise  a  native  of  that  State,  took  place 
there.  He  came  with  his  family  to  Coshocton 
County,  Ohio,  in  the  early  days,  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  there  several  years.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  and  entered  a  large  tract  of  land 
in  Hutton  Township,  containing  160  acres,  for 
which  he  paid  $1.25  per  acre.  He  cleared  and  im- 
proved his  land,  contending  successfully  with  the 
hardships  and  privations  incidental  to  the  pioneer 
days.  His  death  occurred  in  1868,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight;  his  wife  died  in  187H.  Their  family 
consisted  of  ten  children — Joseph,  J.  R.,  Thomas, 
Samuel,  James,  William,  Perry,  Ellen,  Jane,  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Mc- 
Morris were  members  of  the  Separate  Baptist 
Church,  and  were  actively  interested  in  promoting 
the  cause  of  religion  on  the  western  frontier.  They 
are  both  buried  in  Hurricane  Creek  Churchyard. 
Joseph  McMorris  was  born  in  Virginia,  Feb.  8, 
1824,  and  was  a  boy  of  fifteen  when  he  came  with 


his  parents  to  Illinois.  At  that  early  da}'  the 
schools  were  few  and  scattered  remotely  over  the 
prairie,  and  consequently  his  educational  advan- 
tages were  very  limited.  He  remained  at  home 
assisting  his  father  in  cultivating  his  farm,  until  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Leming,  which  took 
place  in  1 844.  Mrs.  McMorris  is  the  daughter  of 
Nicholas  and  Martha  (Hackett)  Leming,  and  was 
born  in  Crawford  County,  111.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  New  Jersey.  Nicholas  Leming  left  his 
native  State  when  a  boy,  and  never  returned.  He 
drifted  to  Ohio,  and  for  several  years  was  em- 
ployed as  a  boatman  on  the  Ohio  River.  In  his 
early  life  he  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  carne 
to  Illinois  when  it  was  a  Territory.  He  was  twice 
married.  His  first  wife  died  leaving  an  only  child, 
Martha,  and  he  was  subsequently  married  to  Miss 
Judith  McGahan. 

After  his  marriage,  which  took  place  in  Hutton 
Township,  Joseph  McMorris  took  charge  of  his 
father-in-law's  farm  for  a  few  years,  and  then  pur- 
chased ninety-one  acres  on  the  same  section.  Soon 
after  making  this  purchase  he  entered  forty  acres 
in  Cumberland  County,  subsequently  buying 
eighty-four  acres  of  partly  improved  land  in  the 
same  place.  He  afterward  sold  forty  acres  of  his 
property  in  Cumberland  County,  and  has  since 
purchased  240  acres  there.  His  entire  estate  now 
contains  442  acres,  all  of  which  is  valuable,  well- 
improved,  and  supplied  with  tiling  and  substantial 
farm  buildings.  For  the  last  twenty  years  he  has 
not  been  engaged  in  farming,  but  having  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  has  found  successful  employ- 
ment as  builder  and  contractor.  He  was  employed 
in  the  construction  of  a  number  of  residences  and 
farm  buildings  in  Coles  and  Cumberland  Counties, 
and  in  1860  constructed  the  last  wooden  bridge 
which  spans  the  Embarras  River  at  Blakeman  Mills. 

Joseph  McMorris  was  a  Whig  until  the  Civil 
War  broke  out,  and  has  since  been  a  member  of 
the  Democratic  party.  His  family  consisted  of 
eleven  children:  J.  N.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Eliza  Ellen,  the  wife  of  Elias  Anderson,  a  resident 
of  Hutton  Township;  Elizabeth  A.  married  A.  A. 
Neal,  and  resides  in  Union  Township,  Cumberland 
County ;  Judith,  Mrs.  Jasper  Anderson,  is  it  resi- 
dent of  Hutton  Township;  Samuel  A.  married  to 


480 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Miss  Jennie  Hackett,  and  resides  in  Union  Town- 
ship, Cumberland  County;  George  W.,  married  to 
Miss  Leoata  Schuyler,  and  resides  on  the  home- 
stead, where  his  wife  is  housekeeper  for  her  father- 
in-law;  Thomas  E.,  a  resident  of  Grant  County, 
Kan.;  Amanda  G.,  Mrs.  Valentine  Nunmaker,  is  a 
resident  of  Union  Township,  Cumberland  County; 
one  son  and  two  daughters  died  in  childhood. 

J.  N.  McMorris  received  a  very  rudimentary  ed- 
ucation, although  it  was  the  best  which  the  early 
days  on  the  western  frontier  afforded.  He  assisted 
his  father  on  the  farm,  in  the  various  branches  of 
agriculture,  until  he  was  about  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  when  his  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Gill 
took  place,  Dec.  28,  1865.  Mrs.  McMorris  was 
born  Jan.  1,  1846,  in  Cumberland  County,  and  is 
the  daughter  of  James  and  Evaline  (Neal)  Gill. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  and  emi- 
grating to  Illinois,  were  among  the  early  pioneers 
of  Union  Township,  Cumberland  County.  Both 
are  now  deceased.  Their  family  consisted  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  Martha  was  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  McMorris,  who  was  at 
this  time  suffering  from  poor  health,  remained  at 
the  homestead  four  years.  In  September,  1869, 
his  father,  associated  with  his  father-in-law,  estab- 
lished a  mercantile  business  at  Diona,  of  which 
Mr.  McMorris  took  charge,  receiving  one-third  of 
the  profits.  After  the  expiration  of  two  years,  his 
father-in-law  gave  him  his  interest  in  the  store  and 
110  acres  of  land.  His  preferences  inclined  more 
toward  mercantile  life  than  agriculture,  and  he 
carried  on  that  business  about  two  years  associated 
with  his  father.  Having  never  possessed  a  robust 
physique,  and  feeling  worn  with  close  application 
to  business,  he  closed  out  the  store  in  1882,  and 
spent  the  summer  traveling  with  his  wife  and  two 
children.  They  made  a  long  and  enjoyable  jour- 
ney, passing  through  Missouri,  Kansas,  Colorado, 
Nebraska  and  Wyoming  Territory.  After  return- 
ing home  with  renewed  strength  and  vigor,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  stock-dealing,  shipping 
mostly  to  Indianapolis,  and  in  1886  settled  with  his 
family  on  the  farm.  He  remained  there,  cultivat- 
ing and  improving  his  property,  until  the  spring  of 
1887,  when  he  returned  to  Diona,  and  resumed 


the  mercantile  business.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
supervising  both  branches  of  business.  His  oldest 
son,  Palmer,  has  charge  of  the  store.  Mr.  McMor- 
ris has  stocked  and  rented  the  farm  in  Putnam 
Township,  which  now  contains  150  acres;  he  also 
owns  a  farm  in  Grant  County,  Kan.,  containing 
1 60  acres. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMorris  had  a  family  of  four 
children:  Palmer  E.,  born  Oct.  3,  1867;  Carrie 
B.,  born  March  16,  1870,  is  an  accomplished  young 
lady,  and  after  completing  her  education,  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  one  term;  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Charles  E.,  born  May  3,  1 876. 

During  the  first  term  of  Grant's  administration, 
Mr.  McMorris  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Diona, 
retaining  the  position  until  1882,  when  he  offered 
his  resignation.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  is  a  member  of  Hutton  Lodge  No.  698, 
of  which  he  has  recently  been  made  Treasurer.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  Kickapoo  Lodge  No.  90,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  Charleston  Encampment,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  was  a  charter  member  and  First  Dictator  of 
Lodge  No.  1174,  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  McMorris  is  a 
highly  esteemed  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


G.  OWENS,  freight  agent  of  the  I.  &  St.  L. 
R.  R.,  is  a  resident  of  Mattoon  and  one  of 
the  substantial,  self-made  business  men  of 
^Illinois.  He  was  born  Feb.  14,  1856,  in 
Saline  County,  Mo.,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert  and 
Julia  R.  (Davis)  Owens.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  Missouri,  where  his  father  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1864.  At  that  time  he  moved  with 
his  family  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  occupied  in 
stock-dealing  until  1866;  he  then  came  to  Kansas, 
111.,  where  he  now  resides,  engaged  in  grain-dealing. 
His  family  consisted  of  ten  children — C.  W.,  J.  C., 
W.  E.,  R.  G.,  J.  L.,  Laura  O.,  F.  B.,  Lula,  Ida  and 
Thomas.  Mr.  Owens  is  active  and  enterprising  in 
business,  and  in  politics,  is  a  member  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party. 

R.  G.  Owens  received  a  practical  education,  and 
at  the  age   of  seventeen   left   home  to   begin   the 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  IU.IHO'8 


COLES   COUNTY. 


483 


world  for  himself.  He  learned  telegraphy  in 
Kansas,  Edgar  County,  and  obtained  the  position 
of  telegraph  operator  for  the  I.  <fe  St.  L.  R.  R. 
His  prompt  and  reliable  business  habits  gave  satis- 
faction to  his  employers,  and  for  fourteen  years  he 
was  engaged  in  the  same  position  at  different 
stations  on  the  line  of  that  railroad. 

He  was  stationed  at  Carbon,  Ind.,  for  six  years 
as  agent,  and  in  August,  1883,  was  transferred  to 
his  present  position.  Mr.  Owens  has  for  many 
years  been  recognized  by  all  the  Officers  of  the  road 
as  a  man  of  exceptional  reliability  and  accuracy  in 
business,  and  all  the  different  companies,  who  have 
in  the  meantime  owned  the  road,  have  retained  him 
in  their  service.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


R.  EDWIN  D.  SCOTT,  a  gentleman  of 
education,  and  well  versed  in  the  in- 
tricacies of  his  profession,  has  been  going 
in  and  out  among  the  people  of  Oakland 
Village  for  the  past  five  years,  during  which  he  has 
followed  his  profession  and  built  up  a  large  practice. 
He  is  one  of  the  foremost  surgeons  of  the  county, 
and  the  possessor  of  a  fine  property  including  a 
beautiful  residence  and  office  on  North  Pike  street, 
where  he  spends  his  leisure  hours  in  application  to 
his  books,  and  keeps  himself  well  informed  upon 
current  events.  He  is  the  encourager  and  sup- 
porter of  every  enterprise  calculated  for  the  moral 
and  intellectual  advancement  of  the  people  of  his 
community,  being  an  earnest  Sunday-school  worker, 
a  strict  temperance  man,  and  the  promoter  of  those 
qualities  in  a  community  which  tend  to  its  credit 
and  advancement. 

Dr.  Scott  was  born  in  Como,  Whiteside  Co.,  111., 
Nov.  15,  1849,  and  is  the  son  of  Josiah  S.  and  Har- 
riett (Coryell)  Scott,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio 
and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  Josiah  Scott  was 
born  May  18,  1819,  and  his  wife,  Harriet,  Sept.  28, 
1828.  Both  parents  are  still  living.  The  father 
followed  farming  during  the  years  of  his  active 
life,  and  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  competency. 
The  ten  children  of  the  parental  household  are  re- 
corded as  follows:  Walter  H.,  who  was  graduated 


from  the  classical  department  of  Adrian  College, 
(Michigan)  in  1869,  married  Miss  Gertrude  Wil- 
cox,  of  Adrian,  and  they  are  residents  of  Mont- 
morency  Tp.,  Whiteside  Co.,  111.;  Edwin  D.,  of  our 
sketch,  was  the  second  child ;  Celestia  is  the  wife  of 
William  Richardson,  of  Comanche,  Iowa;  Hiram 
B.  married  Miss  Mary  Jarmin,  of  Bay  City,  Mich., 
and  is  now  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Elocution  in 
Iowa  College,  at  Grinnell;  Eliza  J.  is  the  wife  of 
George  Baker,  of  Muscatine,  Iowa;  Alice,  Mrs.  Hol- 
lis,  is  a  resident  of  Brough,  Iowa;  Freeman  J.,  a 
medical  student,  is  pursuing  his  studies  at  Sterling, 
111. ;  Orange  M.  is  engaged  in  teaching  at  Rock 
Falls;  Bertha  L.  is  a  teacher  at  Rock  Falls,  and 
Hattie  A.  is  unmarried,  and  at  home  with  her  par- 
ents. 

Dr.  Edwin  D.  Scott  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Alice  Carolus,  of  Sterling,  111.,  Sept.  27,  1883. 
Mrs.  Scott  is  the  daughter  of  I.  S.  and  Amelia 
(Burkley)  Carolus.  Her  father,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, is  now  living  on  a  farm  near  Sterling. 
Mrs.  Scott  was  born  near  Chambersburg,  Franklin 
Co.,  Pa.,  April  8,  1862.  She  has  been  a  successful 
school  teacher,  being  so  engaged  for  several  years 
prior  to  her  marriage.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  have  one 
child,  a  daughter,  Emma  Amelia,  born  Sept.  11, 
1887. 

Dr.  Scott  during  his  youth  and  childhood 
spent  his  time  mostly  upon  the  farm,  and 
availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  district 
schools.  He  was  ambitious  to  learn  something  use- 
ful, and  determined  to  secure  an  education.  He 
worked  his  own  way  and  paid  his  expenses  through 
college,  being  graduated  from  the  High  School  in 
Sterling,  in  1873,  and  completed  a  course  in  Mt. 
Union  College,  Ohio,  three  years  later.  During 
the  summer  of  1876,  he  visited  the  Centennial  Ex- 
position, and  afterward  engaged  in  teaching,  hav- 
ing charge  of  High  Schools  in  various  parts  of  Illi- 
nois, for  a  period  of  ten  years.  After  passing  a 
rigorous  examination,  he  secured  the  State  Teach- 
er's diploma,  and  now  determined  to  turn  his  at- 
tention to  the  study  of  medicine.  He  studied  three 
j  years  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  F.  W.  Gordon, 
of  Sterling,  and  attended  three  courses  at  the 
Hahnemann  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1881,  with  first  honors 


-  >    484 


COLES   COUNTY. 


of  the  institution.  During  the  last  year  he  became 
Institute  Professor  of  Chemistry,  and  soon  after- 
ward commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession 
after  the  homeopathist  theory  in  Andalusia,  Rock 
Island  County.  Thence  he  removed,  in  1883,  to 
Oakland,  where  he  has  since  remained. 

Dr.  Scott  is  still  a  young  man,  and  considering  his 
rapid  progress  so  far,  there  is  reason  to  suppose  that 
he  is  destined  to  become  one  of  the  leading  lights 
of  the  medical  fraternity  in  this  section.  He  is 
a  close  student,  and  keeps  himself  well  posted  upon 
new  theories  of  practice,  and  has  already  secured 
the  confidence  of  a  large  and  lucrative  patronage. 
In  politics  the  Doctor  is  Democratic.  He  is  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Oakland.  The 
publishers  of  this  ALBUM  are  pleased  to  present  the 
portrait  of  Dr.  Scott  to  its  patrons,  as  one  of  the 
foremost  men  of  the  county. 


LBERT  B.  NICHOLSON,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  is  the 
descendant  of  an  old  and  honorable 
pioneer  family.  He  was  born  in  this 
township  Jan.  11,  1850,  and  is  the  son  of  Patrick 
and  Elizabeth  (Ashmore)  Nicholson.  Patrick 
Nicholson  was  a  native  of  Eastern  Tennessee,  where 
he  resided  until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  then 
came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Douglas  County, 
where  his  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Ashmore 
took  place  in  1832.  Mrs.  Nicholson  was  likewise 
a  native  of  Eastern  Tennessee,  whose  family  had 
removed  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day.  In  the  autumn 
of  1831 ,  he  removed  to  Coles  County  and  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  at 
$1.25  per  acre.  He  had  no  capital,  and  to  pay  for 
his  land  he  split  rails  at  thirty-three  and  one-third 
cents  per  hundred.  He  was  industrious  and 
economical,  however,  and  in  a  short  time  cleared 
off  this  debt  and  purchased  more  land,  which  he 
cultivated  and  improved.  His  efforts  were  attended 
with  success,  and  he  finally  became  the  owner  of 
460  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  erected  a  pleasant 
residence  with  excellent  farm  buildings. 

In  his  struggle  with  the   material  obstacles  and 
privations  of  pioneer  life,  Mr.  Nicholson  did  not 

«•  


forget  the  claims  of  God,  who  rules  over  the  seed- 
time and  the  harvest,  and  sends  His  run  alike  upon 
the  just  and  the  unjust. .  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  deeply  interested  in 
promoting  the  cause  of  religion  in  the  community, 
annually  devoting  $125  of  his  income  to  the 
church,  and  for  charitable  purposes.  For  forty 
years  he  was  an  Elder,  and  in  that  capacity  repre- 
sented his  church  at  the  National  Assemblies,  con- 
vened on  different  occasions  at  Philadelphia, 
Cleveland,  St.  Louis,  Chicago,  and  other  cities. 
Mr.  Nicholson  possessed  great  native  intelligence, 
which  was  cultivated  and  improved  by  the  habit 
of  thoughtful  reading.  He  was  well  'informed  in 
regard  to  all  the  important  topics  of  the  day,  and 
actively  interested  in  promoting  the  general  wel- 
fare of  society.  He  made  several  visits  to  his 
native  State,  but  always  returned  with  feelings  of 
renewed  attachment  for  his  Western  home.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  represented  his  township  on  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Mr.  Nicholson  died  of  a  lingering  disease,  but 
his  mental  faculties  were  clear,  enabling  him  to 
supervise  his  business  affairs  until  the  last.  On 
the  day  previous  to  his  death,  which  occurred  Aug. 
15,  1886,  he  made  a  large  sale  of  cattle  and  grain. 
He  was  generous,  both  in  public  and  private  life, 
and  when  his  children  attained  their  majority,  he 
gave  each  a  portion  with  which  to  start  in  life. 
His  widow  is  still  living.  They  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  seven 
now  living,  whose  names  are:  Patience  Ann, 
William  A.,  Sarah  J.,  Harriet  N.,  Albert  B.,  Mar- 
garet and  Ella.  Patience  Ann  is  the  widow  of 
James  Balch ;  Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  T.  A.  Endsley ; 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  T.  J.  Newman,  and  Ella, 
the  wife  of  Alexander  Newman. 

Albert  B.  Nicholson  is  one  of  the  rising  young 
men  of  this  county.  He  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools,  and  resided  on  the  homestead  with  his 
parents  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Jan.  21, 
1875.  His  wife  was  Miss  Rheuhama  T.  Allen,  the 
daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  Allen,  a  resident  of  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  in  which  city  Mrs.  Nicholson  was 
born,  and  where  her  marriage  likewise  took  place. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nicholson  have  a  family  of  five  in- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


485 


teresting   children — Amos    E.,    May,     Patrick   F., 
Myrtle  and  Charles. 

Mr.  Nicholson  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
socially,  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of 
Muddy  Point.  He  owns  seventy-five  acres  of  well- 
improved  land,  and  his  residence  and  farm  buildr 
ings  are  excellent  and  well  appointed. 


E  M.  PFEIFER,  owner  of  a  fine  estate 
containing  160  acres  of  valuable,  well-im- 
proved  land,  resides  on  section  20,  Seven 
Hickory  Township.  He  was  born  Oct.  7,  1849,  in 
Germany,  and  is  the  son  of  Bernhardtand  Barbara 
(Bock)  Pfeifer.  Bernhardt  Pfeifer  was  a  tailor, 
and  during  his  early  life  was  occupied  at  that  trade; 
he  subsequently  bought  several  tracts  of  land, 
which  he  improved,  and  had  three  fine  farms;  on 
his  city  property  he  erected  a  stone  residence  and 
barn,  and  also  a  frame  residence  and  barn  on  an- 
other lot  in  Wallrabs,  in  Saxe-Meiningen,  Germany, 
where  he  resided  and  brought  up  his  family.  He 
made  his  money  in  about  two  years  by  building 
and  contracting  on  the  railroad,  associated  with  two 
of  his  sons.  The  eldest  son,  Casper,  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  road  since  1854;  he  is  very  popular 
with  the  railroad  officials,  and  still  retains  his  po- 
sition, although  now  about  sixty  years  of  age.  (For 
further  history  of  parents,  see  sketch  of  L.  W.  M. 
Pfeifer.) 

George  M.  Pfeifer  received  a  practical  education 
at  the  public  schools  in  Germany,  and  in  May,  1 807, 
he  set  sail  for  the  United  States,  to  seek  his  for- 
tune in  a  new  country.  He  arrived  in  New  York 
about  the  1st  of  June,  having  been  fifteen  days  on 
the  water,  and  found  himself,  a  mere  boy  of  seven- 
teen, in  that  great  city  with  but  five  cents  left  in 
his  pocket,  speaking  a  foreign  language,  and  un- 
familiar with  the  customs  of  the  country.  The  oc- 
cupation to  which  he  had  been  trained  was  that  of 
manufacturing  meerschaum  pipes,  and  at  that  time 
there  was  but  one  factory  of  the  kind  in  operation 
in  New  York.  The  outlook  was  gloom}-,  but  he 
bravely  set  himself  to  work,  seeking  for  employ- 
ment, which  he  finally  obtained  in  a  cooper's  shop. 
He  remained  there  three  weeks,  earning  about 


enough  to  pay  for  his  board,  when  one  day,  to  his 
surprise,  a  lady  accosted  him  on  the  street  and 
asked  if  his  name  was  not  Pfeifer.  She  had  been 
well  acquainted  with  his  family  in  Germany,  and 
recognized  his  face,  having  known  him  when  a 
little  boy.  She  took  him  to  her  home,  and  her 
husband  found  employment  for  him  in  a  tinshop. 
He  remained  there  until  August,  and  then  having 
earned  enough  money  for  his  traveling  expenses, 
came  West  and  joined  his  brother  Louis,  who  had 
previously  located  in  Coles  County,  111.  The 
brothers  lived  together,  and  during  the  first 
year,  George  was  engaged  in  farming  on  shares. 
The  following  year  his  father  gave  him  $200,  with 
which  to  purchase  a  team,  and  this  amount  was  all 
the  financial  assistance  he  ever  received  from  any 
one,  with  the  exception  of  $25,  willed  to  him  by 
his  god-father,  when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age; 
it  was  placed  on  interest,  and  was  used  for  part  of 
his  fare  to  America,  his  father  supplying  the  balance. 

May  26,  1870,  Mr.  Pfeifer  was  married  to  Miss 
Paulina  Roser,  also  a  native  of  Germany.  There 
were  six  children  in  her  parents'  family,  all  of  whom 
are  living  in  Illinois  and  Indiana.  Her  father  died 
in  Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pfeifer  were  married 
in  Charleston  by  Judge  E.  M.  Peterson.  They 
have  an  interesting  family  of  five  children :  Emma 
M.,  born  April  6,  1871;  Clara  J.,  Feb.  17,  1873; 
Edward,  Dec.  5,  1876;  Charles,  July  14,  1880;  and 
Georgia.  William  Zehner,  an  adopted  son  residing 
with  the  family,  was  born  Sept.  10,  1871. 

Mr.  Pfeifer  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in 
1878,  buying  eighty  acres  on  section  29,  just  south 
of  his  present  residence.  In  1880  he  bought  eighty 
acres  on  section  20,  where  the  following  year  he 
erected  a  pleasant  farm  residence.  There  were  no 
improvements  on  either  place  when  he  purchased 
them,  except  a  house  which  was  too  small  and  old 
to  be  of  any  practical  use,  and  a  well.  Mr.  Pfeifer 
is  industrious  and  untiring  in  cultivating  and  im- 
proving his  farm,  on  which  he  has  about  500  rods 
of  tiling.  He  raises  some  broom  corn,  and  also 
corn  and  oats,  but  no  wheat,  and  is  to  some  extent 
engaged  in  raising  fine  stock,  Short-horn  cattle, 
Clydesdale  and  Norman  horses,  and  also  has  some 
mules. 

Mr.  Pfeifer  has  acquired   his  property    by   hard 


.  >  486 


COLES   COUNTY. 


work  and  the  judicious  management  of  his  re- 
sources. In  1881  he  had  the  misfortune  to  be 
stricken  down  with  pleura-pneumonia;  the  disease 
was  very  prostrating,  confining  him  to  his  bed  for 
a  year,  and  he  did  not  recover  from  the  effects  of 
his  illness  until  1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pfeifer  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Arcola.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Pfeifer  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


J~1OSHUA  RICKETTS,  Superintendent  of  the 
I    Coles  County   Almshouse,  and  a  gentleman 
j    who  for  the  past  thirty-eight  years  has  been 
'    closely  identified  with  the  business   interests 
of    Central    Illinois,    is    a    native    of    Muskingum 
County,    Ohio,   his   birth  taking   place   March  13, 
1821.     He  has  consequently  seen  more  than  three- 
score 3'ears.  and  has  made  the  most  of  his  opportu- 
nities in  life.      He  possesses  more  than  ordinary  in- 
telligence  and    business   capacity,    and    is   a    man 
widely  known  and  respected  throughout  this  sec- 
tion of  country. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Sarah 
(Taylor)  Ricketts,  the  former  born  in  Maryland 
Dec.  11,  1779,  and  the  latter  in  Connecticut, 
June  20,  1781.  Joshua  Ricketts,  Sr.,  was  a  hatter 
by  trade,  which  he  followed  in  his  native  State  for 
a  few  years  during  his  early  manhood,  and  thence 
removed  to  Zanesville,  Ohio,  in  1813.  After  a  res- 
idence there  of  three  or  four  years  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  northern  part  of  Muskingum 
County,  upon  which  he  removed  and  was  engaged 
in  its  cultivation  and  improvement  for  a  period  of 
six  years ;  he  then  sold  out  and  purchased  another 
farm  in  the  same  county,  where  he  remained  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  2,  1833.  The  Rick- 
etts family  was  of  Welsh  ancestry,  and  the  mother 
of  our  subject  of  English  parentage.  She  survived 
her  husband  twenty-one  years,  her  death  taking 
place  on  the  old  homestead  in  Muskingum  County, 
in  1854.  Both  parents  were  devoted  members  of  the 
Christian  Churrh.  Their  thirteen  children  included 
nine  sons  and  four  daughters,  who  were  named  re- 
spectively, James,  Mary,  Benjamin,  John,  Samuel, 
Ruth,  William,  Calvin,  Sarah  A.,  Barnabas,  Joshua, 


Susan  and  Reason.  Of  these  but  four  sons  are  now 
living,  the  eldest  being  at  this  date  (1887)  eighty 
years  old.  Joshua,  Jr.,  of  our  sketch,  is  remarka- 
bly strong  and  healthy  for  a  man  of  his  years,  and 
preserves  the  brightness  of  intellect  which  distin- 
guished him  in  his  youth. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Ricketts,  John 
Taylor,  served  seven  years  and  six  months  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  a  large  portion  of  the  time 
under  the  personal  command  of  Gen.  Washington, 
and  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  where  he 
was  wounded.  He  was  several  times  wounded  and 
captured  by  the  enemy. 

Mr.  Ricketts  remained  with  his  parents  until  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  and  then  going  to  Knox  County, 
Ohio,  engaged  in  stud}'  with  a  view  of  preparing 
for  the  ministry.  His  religious  belief,  however, 
met  with  a  change,  and  he  abandoned  his  first  in- 
tention and  for  a  time  engaged  in  fanning,  after- 
ward learning  the  trade  of  a  marble-cutter.  He 
finally  removed  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  marble  business,  and  thence  removed, 
in  1849,  to  Illinois.  After  spending  a  year  in 
Clark  County  he  came  to  Charleston,  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  marble  business,  which  he  car- 
ried on  until  the  outbreak  of  the  late  war.  He  was 
one  of  the  firnt  to  respond  to  the  call  for  troops, 
and  was  soon  promoted  First  Lieutenant.  He 
afterward  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Island  No.  10 
and  the  siege  of  Corinth,  where  he  acquitted 
himself  in  such  a  manner  as  to  secure  the  approval 
of  his  superior  officers  and  the  admiration  of  his 
comrades.  He  served  until  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  enlistment,  and  then  entered  the  109th 
Indiana  Infantry,  being  commissioned  by  Gov. 
Morton,  Adjutant  of  the  regiment.  This  regiment 
was  mustered  out  after  Morgan's  raid  in  Indiana, 
but  at  the  call  for  100-days'  men  in  18C4,  Mr. 
Ricketts,  not  waiting  for  a  commission,  volunteered 
in  the  143d  Illinois  Infantry,  serving  as  Sergeant  in 
Company  A.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
to  his  business  at  Charleston,  and  was  soon  after- 
ward appointed  Superintendent  of  the  Coles  Coun- 
ty Almshouse,  which  position  he  lias  since  held. 
He  has  occupied  the  various  local  offices  of  his 
township,  serving  as  Assessor,  and  was  four  times 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  the  duties  of  which 


f 


COLES    COUNTY. 


487 


office  he  discharged  with  more  than  ordinary  dis- 
cretion and  good  judgment. 

The  marriage  of  Joshua  Ricketts  and  Miss  Cath- 
erine D.  Roberts  took  place  in  Coshocton  County, 
Ohio,  on  the  29th  of  December,  1846.  This  lady 
was  also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  born  March 
26,  1 825.  They  became  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren— Sarah  M.,  William  W.  and  Cornelia  M.  The 
wife  and  mother  departed  this  life  Nov.  8,  1854. 
Mr.  Ricketts  was  the  second  time  married,  Sept.  4, 
1855,  in  Clark  County,  111.,  to  Miss  Malvina 
Jones,  of  Lawrence  County,  Ohio,  who  was  born 
Oct.  24,  1834.  Her  parents  were  William  and 
Barbara  (Biungardner)  Jones,  natives  of  Virginia, 
but  both  now  deceased.  Mr.  Ricketts,  politically, 
is  a  Republican  of  the  first  water,  and  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  party  in  thi's  part  of  the  State. 
Religiously  he  is  connected  with  the  Universalist 
Church  at  Charleston. 


^RUCE  ANDERSON.  The  family  of  Mr. 
Anderson  is  well  known  among  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Coles  County.  He  was 
formerly  a  farmer,  but  is  now  extensively 
engaged  in  shipping  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  He 
was  born  March  29,  1840,  in  Clinton  County,  Ind., 
and  is  the  sou  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Stutsman) 
Anderson,  the  former  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
and  the  latter  of  Indiana. 

In  early  life  Jacob  Anderson  had  been  engaged 
in  milling  in  Indiana,  but  in  the  spring  of  1849 
disposed  of  his  business  interests  there  and  came  to 
this  State,  locating  at  Charleston,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land  containing  about  3,000 
acres,  located  east  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
and  comprising  the  eastern  portion  of  the  city.  He 
laid  out  his  first  addition  to  the  city  in  1852,  which 
was  followed  later  by  six  other  additions  covering 
probably  about  eighty  acres  of  land.  When  he 
first  came  to  the  city  he  erected  a  substantial  brick 
house,  which  now  stands  facing  the  county  road 
and  the  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.  He  passed  an  active  and 
useful  life  here,  engaged  extensively  in  fanning. 
He  was  a  public-spirited  man,  possessed  of  great 
executive  ability,  and  interested  in  every  enter- 


prise calculated  to  improve  the  city  or  promote  the 
welfare  of  those  around  him.  He  was  original  in 
personal  characteristics,  strong  in  his  likes  and  dis- 
likes, generous  and  faithful  in  friendship,  upright 
and  honorable  in  business,  but  not  easily  reconciled 
to  an  enemy,  or  forgiving  where  he  deemed  wrong 
or  injustice  had  been  done.  He  was  a  life-long 
Universalist,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  church 
in  Charleston.  His  family  consisted  of  eight  chil- 
dren, four  now  living,  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  A.  Van 
Sickle,  a  resident  of  Charleston ;  Bruce,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch;  Henley,  who  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead ;  Samantha,  now  Mrs.  C.  Calvert,  a  resident  of 
Tuscola,  Douglas  Co.,  111. 

Bruce  Anderson  was  brought  up  to  the  milling 
business,  but  after  the  removal  of  his  parents  to 
Charleston,  he  engaged  in  farming  until  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  He  then  left  home  to  see  the 
world,  going  to  California,  where  he  spent  three 
years  engaged  in  various  business  enterprises. 
On  his  return,  he  acquired  a  tract  of  land  contain- 
ing 240  acres  of  wild,  unimproved  prairie,  where 
he  built  a  house  and  resumed  farming,  cultivating 
and  improving  this  place  for  five  years.  He  then 
left  home  for  two  years,  and  on  his  return  again 
engaged  in  farming  for  five  years.  At  this  time 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  Little  Rock,  Ark., 
and  there  engaged  in  the  milling  business,  buying 
grain  in  Arkansas  and  Texas,  but  the  climate  prov- 
ing unfavorable,  within  two  years  his  family  re- 
turned to  the  farm  in  Charleston,  but  Mr.  Anderson 
remained  and  continued  the  business  four  years, 
when  he  rejoined  his  family,  and  conducted  the 
farm  for  six  years. 

In  1883  our  subject  built  a  residence  on  a  corner 
lot  belonging  to  him  in  the  city,  where  he  now  re- 
sides, and  in  1886  removed  with  his  family  to  the 
city.  The  first  house  built  in  Charleston  was 
erected  on  this  lot,  the  land  at  that  time  being 
covered  with  heavy  timber.  A  fine  grove  of  eleven 
native  black- walnut  trees  now  stands  there,  a  pleas- 
ant memorial  of  the  old  forest.  This  is  the  highest 
point  of  land  within  the  city  limits  north  of  the 
town  branch, 

Our  subject  was  married  in  November,  I8t>2,  to 
Miss  Emogene  Dunbar,  daughter  of  Col. 'A.  M.and 
Susan  Dunbar,  of  Charleston.  -They  had  three 


488 


COLES   COUNTY. 


children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Anderson  became  the  parents  of  two  children 
— Gay  and  Cathleen.  Upon  the  death  of  .his^wife, 
Mr.  A.  was  married  a  second  time,  in  1868,  to  Mrs. 
AlbenaMurry.  Mr.  Anderson,  like  his  father,  is  a 
stanch  Democrat. 


ETER  FURRY,  a  substantial  farmer  resid- 
ing in  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  is  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Coles  County,  his  residence 
here  dating  from  the  year  1839.  He  was 
born  June  14,  1817,  in  York  County,  Pa.,  and  is 
the  son  of  Peter  and  Barbara  (Sherick)  Furry.  His 
family  is  of  French  extraction,  although  its  mem- 
bers have  for  several  generations  been  residents  of 
the  United  States.  Peter  Furry  was  born  in  Adams 
County,  Md.,  just  adjoining  the  State ^of  Pennsj'l- 
vania.  His  wife's  family  were  remotely  of  Swiss 
ancestry,  and  her  parents  were  residents  of  Lan- 
caster County,  Pa.,  where  she  was  born.  Mr. 
Furry's  marriage  took  place  in  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  where  they  were  engaged  in  farming  until 
1839,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Coles  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Furry 
were  swept  away  by  the  scourge  of  cholera,  which 
prevailed  in  1851,  only  four  days  intervening 
between  the  death  of  each.  They  had  a  family  of 
nine  children  born  to  them,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy,  seven  grew  to  maturity,  and  three  are  now 
living — Peter,  Polly  and  George. 

Peter  Furry  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the 
States  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  and  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Illinois  iu  1839,  settling  in  Coles 
County  in  the  vicinity  of  his  present  residence. 
In  1845  he  purchased  four  yoke  of  oxen  and  re- 
moved to  Wisconsin,  where  he  engaged  in  hauling 
goods  between  the  lead  mines  of  that  region  and 
the  city  of  Milwaukee.  He  passed  through  Chicago, 
which  was  then  a  small  village  with  grass  growing 
in  the  streets.  He  did  not  continue  in  this  busi- 
ness long,  however,  and  after  his  return  home  was 
married,  Jan.  27,  1850,  to  Miss  Alvira  White. 
Mrs.  Furry  is  the  daughter  of  James  D.  and 
Lucindn  (Goldman)  White.  Her  parents  were 


among  the  early  settlers  of  Coles  County  and  she 
was  born  here  Jan.  27,  1833.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Furry  purchased  land  in  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  and  in  1 860  located  where  he  now  re- 
sides. Since  making  his  first  purchase  he  has  given 
his  attention  exclusively  to  farming,  and  now  owns 
121  acres  of  valuable,  well-improved  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Furry  have  become  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Their 
only  son,  George,  a  promising  young  man,  died 
Jan.  19,  1887,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  The  record 
of  the  others  is  as  follows:  Lucy  Ann  is  the  wife 
of  Martin  Brady;  Amanda  E.  became  the  wife  of 
Warren  C.  Butler,  and  the  mother  of  one  son,  Byron ; 
her  husband  served  in  the  Civil  War,  and  his  death 
occurred  in  1882.  Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of  John  V. 
Summer;  Ellena  E.  was  married  to  Charles  James; 
Susan  Florence  is  the  wife  of  D.  Gray;  Allie  and 
Pearl  E. 

With  his  wife,  Mr.  Furry  belongs  to  the  Baptist 
Church.  He  is  not  actively  interested  in  politics, 
and  does  not  aspire  to  public  office,  but  he  always 
sustains  the  Republican  party,  and  lias  served  as  a 
member  of  the  School  Board. 


AVIU  MARTIN,  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising citizens  of  Hutton  Township,  owns 
and  occupies  160  acres  of  improved  land 
on  section  13,  with  about  thirty-five  acres 
of  valuable  timber,  and  took  possession  of  a  part  of 
his  present  homestead  in  1853.  The  improvements 
which  now  invariably  attract  the  eye  of  the  passing 
traveler  have  been  brought  about  by  his  own  in- 
dustry and  good  judgment.  He  erected  a  fine 
brick  residence  in  1875,  and  has  two  commodious 
barns,  with  all  other  necessary  out-buildings.  The 
land  is  neatly  and  substantially  fenced,  and  the 
proprietor  is  supplied  with  all  the  machinery  for 
carrying  on  his  chosen  vocation  after  the  most 
modern  methods. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Jefferson  Count}',  Ky., 
born,  March  29,  1825.  He  comes  of  excellent 
Scottish  ancestry,  and  the  first  representatives  of 
the  family  in  this  country  are  supposed  to  have  lo- 
cated in  the  Old  Dominion.  His  grandfather,  John 


COLES   COUNTY. 


489 


Martin,  was  born  in  Albemarle  County,  and  was 
there  married.  Soon  afterward  he  removed  to 
Kentucky,  making  the  journey  overland  by  teams 
to  Jefferson  County,  where  he  entered  about  600 
acres  of  timber  land,  and  after  improving  and  liv- 
ing on  it  for  thirty-five  years  became  involved  in 
litigation  with  his  cousin,  and  lost  the  whole.  He 
died,  however,  before  the  suit  was  ended,  but  suf- 
fered all  the  humiliation  and  inconvenience  of 
being  reduced  from  plenty  to  comparative  poverty. 
His  wife  survived  him  a  few  years.  Their  seven 
children  were  named  Hudson,  Charles  R.,  Henry, 
Wesley  B.,  Mary,  Judia  and  Amy.  All  lived  to 
mature  years,  and  with  the  exception  of  Amy,  who 
died  when  twenty  years  of  age,  were  married  and 
reared  large  families.. 

Wesley  B,  Martin,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
the  fourth  child  of  his  parents,  and  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, Oct.  17,  1792.  He  was  quite  young  when 
his  father  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  remained  at 
home  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  receiving  a 
limited  education.  He  married  Miss  Lydia,  the 
daughter  of  Anthony  and  Catherine  Snyder,  whose 
parents  were  natives  of  Germany,  but  emigrated 
to  this  country  when  quite  young,  and  settled  with 
their  parents  in  Pennsylvania,  in  which  State  they 
were  married.  After  marriage  they  located  on  a 
farm  in  Jefferson  County,  Ky.,  but  in  October, 
1847,  Weslej'  Martin  determined  to  seek  his  for- 
tune iu  the  Prairie  State.  Coming  into  this  county 
he  entered  eighty  acres  of  timber  laud  in  Hutton 
Township,  which  he  cleared  and  improved,  and  upon 
which  he  built  up  a  comfo.  table  homestead,  which 
he  occupied  for  thirty-five  years.  In  1863  he  sold 
out  and  purchased  forty  acres  in  Huttou  Township. 

Not  long  afterward  Wesley  Martin  received  a, 
stroke  of  paralysis,  from  which  he  never  recovered, 
being  helpless  the  remaining  years  of  his  life.  His 
death  took  place  in  1860.  He  had  been  a  man 
highly  esteemed  among  his  neighbors  and  served  as 
a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  being  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Jackson  and  participating  in  the 
battle  of  New  Orleans.  His  wife  survived  for  about 
twenty  years,  her  death  taking  place  Sept.  22,  1880. 
The  remains  of  both  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  Har- 
rington Church  bury  ing-ground  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship. The  mother  was  blind  for  about  seven  years 


before  her  death.  Three  days  previously  she  ex- 
pressed a  desire  that  she  might  look  upon  the  faces 
of  her  children  before  closing  her  eyes  forever 
upon  the  scenes  of  earth.  About  twenty-four  hours 
before  passing  away  the  sight  partially  returned  to 
one  eye,  so  that  she  could  recognize  her  children 
and  called  them  by  name.  These,  seven  in  num- 
ber, were  named  respectively,  George  and  Cather- 
ine, both  deceased;  Charles  R.,  David,  of  our 
sketch;  Wesley,  deceased;  Elizabeth,  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy  unnamed. 

David  Martin  was  the  fifth  child  of  his  parents, 
and  about  thirteen  years  of  age  when  they  emi- 
grated from  Kentucky  to  Illinois.  He  received  a 
limited  education,  and  after  reaching  his  majority 
purchased  forty  acres  of  timber  land  in  Hutton 
Township,  where  he  built  a  log  house  and  made 
other  preparations  for  the  establishment  of  a  home 
of  his  own.  One  of  his  most  important  ventures 
at  that  time  was  his  marriage  with  Miss  Sallie  A. 
Orchard,  which  took  place  Aug.  12,  1847.  Mrs. 
Martin  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Ky.,  Dec.  14, 
1828,  and  is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Jane 
(Richardson)  Orchard,  also  natives  of  the  Blue 
Grass  State,  where  they  were  reared  and  married. 
They  came  to  this  county  in  about  1833,  and  built 
up  a  farm  in  Hutton  Township.  They  experienced 
all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life,  and 
lived  to  see  the  country  around  them  built  up  and 
settled  with  an  excellent  class  of  people. 

Mr.  Martin,  after  his  marriage,  commenced  farm- 
ing on  forty  acres  in  Hutton  Township,  which  he 
occupied  two  years,  and  then  traded  for  eighty 
acres  of  timber  on  the  Kickapoo  Creek  in  Charles- 
ton Township.  Here,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
he  put  up  a  sawmill,  which  they  operated  three 
years,  and  then  selling  out  our  subject  purchased 
sixty  acres  on  section  13,  in  Hutton  Township,  to 
which  he  afterward  added  100  more,  and  which 
now  constitutes  his  present  farm.  While  running 
the  sawmill  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
brick  masonry,  and  has  built  more  barns  than  any 
man  in  Coles  County,  besides  several  brick  resi- 
dences, school-houses  and  churches. 

The  twelve  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  are 
as  follows:  George  W.,  born  June  20,  1848.  is 
still  at  home  with  his  parents;  Lydia  J.,  bom  Jan, 


490 


COLES   COUNTY. 


22,  1850,  became  the  wife  of  John  Keckley,  and 
lives  in  Hutton  Township;  Mary  C.,  born  Oct.  8, 
1 852,  became  the  wife  of  George  Rhue,  and  died 
.  at  her  home  in  Cumberland  County,  Feb.  26,  1876  ; 
Sarah  F.,  born  March  13,  1855,  is  the  wife  of  John 
Fesler,  of  Diona;  Nancy  E.,  born  Jan.  24,  1857, 
married  B.  Goben,  and  is  a  resident  of  Pleasant  : 
Grove;  Luvina,  born  Dec.  17,  1858,  married  Sam- 
uel Stephens,  and  is  living  in  Charleston  Township; 
Rebecca,  born  Feb.  2,  1861,  is  the  wife  of  R.  E. 
Hurt,  of  Shelby  County;  Charles  W.,  born  Oct.  17, 
1862,  married  Miss  Ida  Walker,  and  is  a  resident 
of  Cumberland  County;  Mandeny,  bom  Aug.  12, 
1  865,  became  the  wife  of  Warrick  Gwm.  and  lives 
in  Hutton  Township;  Laura  B.,  born  June  20, 
1867,  and  Nelson  T.,  Dec.  7,  1870,  are  at  home 
with  their  parents.  An  infant  died  unnamed. 

Mr.  Martin  has  labored  on  the  farm  but  little, 
although  superintending  its  operations.  His  indus- 
try and  enterprise  have  become  proverbial,  and  in 
addition  to  his  own  private  interests  he  has  served 
his  township  as  School  Director  twelve  years,  Road  ] 
Commissioner  three  years,  and  held  the  office  of 
Deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church  for  ten  years.  To  i 
this  Church  his  wife  and  children  also  belong,  and 
for  years  have  been  among  its  most  cheerful  and 
liberal  contributors.  Mr.  Martin,  politically,  is  a 
stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party. 


JO.  SILVERS,  a  retired  farmer,  residing  in 
Mattoon,  was  born  Aug.  18,  1827,  in  Sulli- 
van County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  Bletcher 
and  Elizabeth  (Ingraham)  Silvers,  natives 
of  Washington  County,  Ky.,  where  his  father  was 
engaged  in  farming.  His  grandparents,  John  and 
Nancy  (Springer)  Silvers,  were  natives  of  Kentucky ; 
the  family  of  the  former  was  of  German  extraction. 
He  carried  on  an  extensive  farming  business  in  his 
native  State,  and  owned  quite  a  number  of  slaves. 
In  1818  Bletcher  Silvers  removed  with  his  family 
to  Sullivan  County,  where  he  passed  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  His  wife  died  in  1856,  and  he  did  not 
survive  her  many  years,  his  death  occurring  in  1861. 
They  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  three  of  whom 
are  now  living,  as  follows:  Letitia,  the  wife  of 


W.    P,  McClure,   a  resident   of    Graham    County. 

•*  »      • 

Kan. ;  J.  0.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Hester, 
the  wife  of  Mr.  James  French,  also  a  resident  of 
Sullivan  County.  Mr.  Silvers  in  early  life  served 
in  the  War  of  1812.  He  belonged  to  the  Old  Wh;g 
party  in  .politics,  but  subsequently  became  a  Re- 
publican. Both  himself  and  wife  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  their  daily  lives  ex- 
emplified the  sincerity  of  their  religious  faith. 

J.  O.  Silvers  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Indiana,  and  remained  at  home  until  eighteen 
years  of  age;  he  was  then  sent  to  the  DePauw  Uni- 
versity, and  after  three  years  of  study  was  grad- 
uated from  that  institution  with  honors.  He  then 
taught  school  in  Indiana  two  years,  and  in  1851 
came  to  Cass  County,  111.,  and  was  there  engaged 
two  seasons  as  teacher  in  a  seminary  at  Virginia. 
But  his  tastes  inclined  him  to  prefer  agriculture' 
and  he  returned  to  Indiana  and  engaged  in  farming 
in  Vigo  County  until  1863,  when  he  removed  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Mattoon.  He  had  previously 
been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Shelby- 
ville,  Shelby  Co.,  111.,  and  on  coming  to  Mattoon 
was  at  first  occupied  in  buying  and  selling  real  es- 
tate. In  1870  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
North  Okaw  Township,  in  this  county,  and  engaged 
in  farming.  The  following  3'ear  he  purchased  ten 
acres  on  Western  avenue,  where  he  remained  until 
1877,  and  then  returned  to  his  other  farm,  passing 
six  years  there.  In  1883  he  retired  from  the  cares 
of  active  business  and  returned  to  this  city,  where 
he  now  resides  on  West  First  street. 

Our  subject's  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  F.  Pugh 
took  place  iu  1852.  Mrs.  Silvers  was  a  native  of 
Terre  Haute,  and  the  daughter  of  Ishmael  Pugh. 
Three  children  were  born  to  them,  whose  names  are 
as  follows:  Clara  Belle,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Lytle,  is  the  mother  of  four  children — Howard, 
Grace,  Gertrude  and  Ralph;  Hattie,  the  wife  of 
Charles  N.  Brown,  has  one  child,  J.  Herbert;  and 
Frank.  In  1871  the  family  circle  was  broken  by 
the  death  of  Mrs.  Silvers. 

In  1876  Mr.  Silvers  was  happily  married  the 
second  time,  to  Mrs.  Sophia  J.  (Eggleston)  Allen. 
Mrs.  Silvers  is  the  daughter  of  David  and  Rebecca 
(Judd)  Eggleston,  natives  of  New  York.  They  had 
a  family  of  five  children,  of  whom  only  two  are 


t 


COLES   COUNTY. 


491 


living — Mrs.  Bartlett,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  Mrs. 
Silvers.  Mrs.  Silvers'  grandfather,  Jonathan  Eg- 
gleston,  was  of  English  descent,  and  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Mrs.  Silvers'  first  marriage 
occurred  in  1842.  Her  husband,  Samuel  Allen, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  He  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1863,  and  purchased  a  farm  of  250  acres 
adjoining  the  city  of  Mattoon.  He  was  an  enter- 
prising business  man,  and  invested  in  city  property 
to  a  considerable  extent.  His  death  occurred  in 
1874.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Mattoon. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife,  having  no  children, 
have  adopted  four  orphans,  whom  they  have  cared 
for  and  educated.  Their  names  are,  Aaron  and 
Rebecca  Wycoff,  brother  and  sister,  who  were 
brought  here  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  from  Ohio; 
Isaac  Roby  and  Nellie  V.  Hyde.  Mr.  Silvers  is  a 
member  of  the  Republican  party,  and  socially  be- 
longs to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  has  also  been  for 
many  years  a  highly  esteemed  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 


AMES  HOOD,  JR.,  one  of  the  successful  and 
prominent  farmers  of  Humbolt  Township, 
owns  and  occupies  an  elegant  home  on  sec- 
(KgP/  tion  19,  a  lithographic  view  of  which  apears 
on  page  266.  He  was  born  in  West  Union,  Adams 
Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  29,  1834,  and  is  the  son  of  James 
and  Mary  (Ellison)  Hood,  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio  respective^'.  John  Hood,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  had  a  family  of  four  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters. 

James,  the  father  of  our  subject,  came  from  his  na- 
tive State  to  Ohio  when  a  lad  four  or  five  years  old. 
He  there  learned  the  tanner's  trade,  and  subsequently 
worked  with  the  father  of  Gen.  Grant,  but  aban- 
doning this  he  engaged  in  merchandising,  which  he 
successfully  prosecuted  for  many  years.  His  fam- 
ily consisted  of  three  children  by  his  first  wife, 
namely:  Rebecca,  Mrs.  Andrew  Smalley,  living  in 
Ironton,  Ohio;  Hannah,  Mrs.  Nathan  Branson,  liv- 
ing in  West  Union,  Ohio,  and  James,  the  subject 
of  our  sketch.  Jarnes  Hood's  second  wife  was  a 
sister  of  the  first,  named  Isabelle  Ellison,  who  died 


in  1861,  his  first  wife  having  died  in  1838.  He  is 
yet  living,  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven. 

James  Hood,  Jr.,  from  the  time  he  could  look 
over  the  counter  was  obliged  to  stay  in  his  father's 
store,  a  task  which  always  proved  irksome  to  him. 
Whenever  an  opportunity  offered  for  visiting  one 
of  his  uncles  in  the  country  he  gladly  did  so,  and 
anxiously  looked  forward  to  the  time  when  he 
could  remain  upon  a  farm.  In  the  year  1853  he 
left  his  home,  going  to  Etna  Furnace,  near  Iron- 
ton,  Ohio,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  furnace  store 
a  year,  at  a  salary  of  $300.  He  then  returned  to 
the  assistance  of  his  father  for  one  year,  afterward 
resuming  his  charge  at  Etna  Furnace  at  an  increased 
salary  of  $400,  out  of  which  he  saved  $365.  With 
this  he  went  to  Iowa  in  1856  and  entered  a  half 
section  of  land  in  Butler  County.  Here  he  re- 
mained until  1859r  when  he  traded  his  land  for  240 
acres  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Coles,  now  Douglas 
County.  III.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  had 
140  acres  of  sod  broken  and  sown  in  wheat,  and 
in  the  spring  bought  112  head  of  yearling  calveSj 
which  he  herded  near  Milton  Station,  now  Hum- 
bolt.  Six  months  later  he  sold  his  calves  and  wheat 
and  returned  to  West  Union,  where  he  rented  a 
gristmill  owned  by  his  father.  During  his  employ- 
ment in  this  new  business  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  E.  Wilson,  a  resident  of  Mc- 
Lean County,  111.,  the  wedding  taking  place  Jan.  1 , 
1861. 

Mrs.  Hood  was  the  only  child  of  Jarnes  and 
Susan  (McKee)  Wilson,  natives  of  Kentucky  and 
Ohio  respectively.  She  was  born  in  Adams  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  Aug.  4,  1842.  In  the  fall  following  his 
marriage  Mr.  Hood  again  moved  to  Illinois,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1862  built  a  shanty  on  his  tract  of 
land  located  on  section  29,  Humbolt  Township. 
During  the  summer  he  broke  forty  acres  and  sowed 
it  in  wheat,  but  becoming  discouraged  by  reason 
of  sickness  returned  to  Etna  Furnace,  and  engaged 
as  assistant  manager  at  a  salary  of  $1,200  per  an- 
num. While  thus  occupied  he  rented  his  farm  to 
D.  C.  Thomas,  for  grain  rent.  His  share  of  the 
wheat  marketed  at  $1.85  per  bushel  at  Humbolt, 
bringing  him  $20  per  acre,  which  has  never  been 
excelled  in  this  part  of  the  State.  Elated  by  their 


I 


t. 


492 


COLES   COUNTY. 


success,  farmers  engaged  largely  in  wheat-raising 
the  next  year,  only  to  meet  a  great  failure. 

In  1  805  Mr.  H.  again  came  to  Illinois,  where  he  has 
remained  until  the  present  time.  Although  he 
had  been  a  farmer  merely  in  name  previously,  he 
now  became  one  in  fact,  doing  his  first  plowing  that 
spring  with  a  plow  he  had  purchased  at  a  sale  for 
$1.50,  which  he  used  four  years.  The  cutter 
which  was  attached  when  he  purchased  the  plow  he 
sold  for  $1,  making  his  plow  cost  but  fifty  cents. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hood  have  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, recorded  as  follows:  John  E.,  Mary  S.,  Sarah 
B.,  James  W.,  Ann  Eliza,  Robert  B.,  Clara  D.  .and 
William  H.  Mr.  Hood  is  a  pronounced  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  having  voted  in  1856  for  Fremont, 
and  has  since  voted  for  each  of  the  mominees  in 
his  party,  save  in  1  860,  when  by  virtue  of  chang- 
ing his  place  of  residence  he  lost  his  vote.  He  is 
an  excellent  citizen,  a  successful,  painstaking 
farmer,  and  a  gentleman  of  refined  tastes. 


J~~l  UDGE  J.  R.  CUNNINGHAM,  of  Charleston, 
is  descended  from  a  family  distinguished  for 
intellect  and  character.  He  was  born  Sept. 
'  19,  1831,  in  Litchfield,  Grayson  Co.,  Ky., 
and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Yates)  Cun- 
ningham, the  ^former  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the 
latter  of  Maryland.  John  Cunningham  was  a  man 
of  prominence  in  the  community  where  he  resided. 
He  was  at  one  time  Sheriff  of  Breckinridge  County, 
and  served  one  term  as  member  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature. He  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  and  mercantile  pursuits  in 
Grayson  County,  Ky.  He  was  twice  married,  and 
by  his  first  wife  had  a  family  of  ten  children.  His 
second  wife  was  Miss  Harriet  B.  Wortham.  and  by 
this  marriage  eight  children  were  born. 

The  boyhood  of  Judge  Cunningham  was  passed 
on  his  father's  farm  until  the  age  of  seventeen, 
when  he  was  sent  to  St.  Mary's  College,  in  Marion 
County,  Ky.  He  there  applied  himself  diligently 
to  study  during  three  terms,  and  upon  his  return 
home  was  engaged  one  year  as  book-keeper  in  his 
father's  store,  and  then  deciding  to  enter  one  of  .the 
professions,  went  to  Nashville.  Tenn.,  where  he 


read  medicine  and  attended  medical  lectures  one 
year.  After  his  return  home  he  read  law  three  years 
in  the  office  of  William  L.  Conklin,and  in  1855  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  practiced  law  in  Litchfield 
one  year.  In  1  857  he  was  engaged  in  his  profes- 
sion a  few  months  in  Mattoon,  and  then  came  to 
Charleston,  where  he  first  commenced  the  practice 
of  law  associated  with  O.  B.  Ficklin,  and  remained 
with  him  about  three  years.  His  superior  ability 
as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  man  suited  to  the  successful 
management  of  public  affairs,  soon  became  appar- 
ent, and  in  1 860  he  was  elected  District  Attorney 
in  the  4th  Judicial  Circuit  of  Illinois,  holding  the 
office  four  years.  He  then  resumed  the  practice  of 
law  in  Charleston,  and  in  1 865  was  elected  City 
Attorney  for  a  term  of  two  years.  After  the  ex- 
piration of  this  office  he  served  as  City  Clerk  one 
year  and  Alderman  two  years.  He  was  then  elected 
Supervisor  three  years,  and  also  Chairman  of  the 
Board.  In  1870  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
State  Legislature  by  a  majority  of  200,  and  in  1874 
served  again  as  Alderman.  In  1878  he  was  elected 
County  Judge,  and  held  the  office  five  years. 

The  marriage  of  Judge  Cunningham  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  Smith,  took  place  Jan.  9,  1862.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  William  O.  Smith,  of  Lexington, 
Ky.  They  have  an  interesting  family  of  eight 
children — William  S.,  Robert  O.,  John,  James  W., 
Mary  A.,  Charles,  Clifford  and  Thomas. 

Judge  Cunningham  is  now  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law  in  this  city,  at  his  ollice  on  Jackson 
street.  During  the  incumbency  of  the  various 
offices  to  which  he  was  elected,  he  discharged  his 
public  duties  faithfully,  giving  entire  satisfaction 
to  the  community.  He  belongs  to  the  Democratic 
party,  and  both  socially  and  politically,  is  one  of 
the  prominent  men  of  the  county. 


AEAYETTE  CRAIG,  who  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  farming  commun- 
ity of  Morgan  Township  and  vicinity  for 
the  last  fifty-two  years,  was  born  in  Clark  County, 
111.,  March  27,  1832.  His  parents  were  Isaac  X. 
and  Catherine  (Hanson)  Craig,  whose  ancestors 
were  of  Southern  birth  and  parentage.  The  grand- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


493 


father  of  our  subject,  Robert  Craig  by  name,  a  na-- 
tive  of  Virginia,  removed  first  to  Kentucky  and 
then  to  Illinois,  where  his  death  took  place  about 
1848.  The  family  is  of  Scottish  ancestry  and  the 
great-grandfather  of  the  present  representative  in 
this  section  was  driven  from  his  country  during  the 
Rebellion.  His  sou  Robert  reared  a  family  of  three 
sous  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  but  two  are  now 
living,  namely,  Isaac  N.,  a  resident  of  Charleston, 
and  his  sister,  Narcissa,  Mrs.  Davis,  who  lives  in 
Morgan  Township. 

The  father  of  our  subject  came  to  Clark  County, 
111.,  in  1828.  where  he  was  married  and  whence  he 
removed,  in  1835,  to  this  county,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  1872,  and  then  retired  from  active 
labor.  His  wife,  Catherine,  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, born  near  Lexington,  where  she  was  reared 
and  came  with  her  parents,  about  1828,  to  Central 
Illinois.  The  father's  family  included  fourteen 
children.  Robert,  a  merchant  of  Hickory,  died  in 
1866,  and  left  four  children;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of 
Herman  Gregg,  of  Moultrie  County,  is  the  mother 
of  six  children ;  Harriet  first  married  Harvey  Fow- 
ler, now  deceased,  and  subsequently  married  L.  C. 
Mitchell;  Nancy  and  William  R.  died  in  early  child- 
hood. Mrs.  Catherine  Craig  departed  this  life  at 
the  home  of  her  husband  in  Morgan  Township, 
May  1,  1841.  Isaac  Craig  was  married  again  the 
same  year  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bloyer,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  of  German  parentage.  She  caine  to  this 
State  in  1838.  Of  this  union  there  were  born 
Catherine,  now  the  wife  of  Robert  McMullin,  of 
Charleston  Township,  and  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren ;  James  W.,  practicing  law  at  Maltoon,  married 
and  the  father  of  four  children;  Audrey  J.;  Eliza 
E.,  the  wife  of  A.  N.  Swango;  Benjamin  F.,  de- 
ceased; Isaac  B.,  of  the  firm  of  Craig  &  Craig; 
Mary  F.,  who  died  when  young,  and  Thomas  J., 
married  and  at  home  farming  with  his  father,  near 
Charleston. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  remained  at  home 
until  after  reaching  his  majority.  He  had  improved 
his  advantages  at  school  and  now  engaged  in  tench- 
ing,  which  he  followed  several  winters  while  em- 
ployed on  the  farm  during  the  summer  season.  He 
was  married,  Jan.  3,  1856,  to  Miss  Jemima,  the 
daughter  of  Joseph  Fowler,  who  was  bom  in  North 


Carolina.  Her  parents  were  natives  respectively 
of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee.  Of  this 'union 
there  were  born  three  children,  namely,  James  B., 
Alvin  and  Isaac  E.  The  wife  and  mother  departed 
this  life  on  the  26th  of  March,  1862.  On  the  12th 
of  Febuary,  1863,  Mr.  Craig  was  married  to  Miss 
Margaret  J.  Woodfall,  of  Morgan  Township,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  viz., 
Charles  P.,  Willis  N.,  Ida  M.,  Elmer  T.,  Robert  IL, 
Oscar  A.  and  Thomas  1). 

Mr.  Craig,  in  1855,  purchased  sixty  acres  of  land 
in  Morgan  Township,  to  which  he  subsequently 
added  until  he  became  the  possessor  of  440  acres. 
Upon  this  he  has  brought  about  fine  improvements 
and  underlaid  the  low  lands  with  1,000  rods  of  tile. 
The  land  is  mostly  devoted  to  the  raising  of  corn, 
wheat  and  oats,  and  the  stock  includes  twenty-three 
horses  and  forty  cattle.  There  is  a  fine  growth  of 
maples  on  the  place,  planted  twenty  years  ago, 
which  forms  one  of  its  most  attractive  features. 
Mr.  Craig  has  been  prominent  in  local  affairs  since 
reaching  manhood ;  he  was  Collector  the  first  two 
years  after  the  organization  of  the  township,  Su- 
pervisor thirteen  years,  and  also  served  as  Assessor. 
He  assisted  in  taking  the  census  in  1865,  and  in 
1882  took  a  trip  to  England  upon  business  con- 
nected with  the  settlement  of  the  estate  of  the 
Woodfall  heirs. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  during  the  winter  of 
1832  was  engaged  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  His 
mother,  who  in  her  girlhood  was  Miss  Catherine 
Hanson,  was  born  March  12.  1812,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Coons)  Han- 
son, natives  respectively  of  Virginia,  whence  they 
removed  to  Kentucky.  Robert  Hanson  and  his  wife 
became  the  parents  of  nine  children,  namely.  Sarah, 
Susan,  Mary  Ann,  George,  Gideon,  Robert,  Cath- 
erine, Permelia  and  Nancy,  seven  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. 

Mr.  Craig  is  a  stockholder  in  the  County  Fair 
grounds,  and  has  for  years  been  greatly  interested 
in  fine  horses.  He  has  been  President  of  the  Run- 
ning and  Trotting  Society  for  a  period  of  five  years, 
and  connected  with  nearly  every  enterprise  calcu- 
lated for  the  advance  of  the  farming  interests  of 
Morgan  Township.  His  genial  disposition  and 
courteous  manner  to  all,  have  secured  him  an  ex- 


t. 


494 


COLES   COUNTY. 


tended  friendship  among  the  people  of  his  county, 
while  his  good  business  capacities  and  judgment  in 
financial  matters,  as  we  have  seen,  have  often  been 
called  into  requisition  in  township  and  county  af- 
fairs. 

The  good  taste  and  industry  of  Mr.  Craig  are 
perhaps  the  most  forcibly  illustrated  in  the  home 
which  he  has  provided  for  himself  and  family,  and 
a  view  of  which  is  given  on  page  266.  It  is  cred- 
itable alike  to  the  proprietor  and  to  Morgan  Town- 
ship. 


^ 

ILISHA  LINDER.  The  family  history  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  comprises  an 
interesting  array  of  facts  and  figures,  and 
proves  it  to  have  been  one  of  prominence  in  the 
locality  where  the  Linders  first  settled  upon  coming 
to  this  country.  Wherever  located  they  have 
made  their  mark,  exerting  a  good  influence  upon 
the  minds  and  morals  of  those  with  whom  they 
have  been  connected,  and  have  occupied  positions 
of  trust  and  importance. 

Mr.  L.  was  born  in  Hardin  County,  Ky.,  Aug. 
16,  1807,  and  was  the  eldest  of  four  children  born 
to  Isaac -and  Nancy  (Richardson)  Linder.  The 
former  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  whence  his 
parents  removed  when  he  was  a  child  to  Kentucky. 
They  were  Daniel  and  Rebecca  (VanMeter)  Linder, 
the  former  reared  and  educated  in  the  country  and 
a  man  of  much  force  of  character  and  great  in- 
dustry. His  father  was  Lawrence  Linder,  a 
brother  of  Simon  and  Anthony  Linder,  who  were 
natives  of  Germany.  Daniel  Linder,  when  the 
Colonies  began  to  struggle  for  their  liberty,  identi- 
fied himself  with  them  and  distinguished  himself 
as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution.  He  then  engaged 
in  his  farming  until  he  was  of  a  good  old  age. 

Isaac  Linder,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
and  reared  among  the  stirring  scenes  of  nearly  a 
century  ago,  and  when  a  young  man  was  actively 
engaged  in  skirmishes  with  the'Indians,  who  made 
life  miserable  for  the  early  settlers  of  the  Blue 
Grass  Regions.  He  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  in  Kentucky  and  died  there  in  1814,  while 
still  in  the  prime  of  life.  After  his  death  the 


mother  kept  her  children  together  until  Elisha,  our 
subject,  was  old  enough  to  assist  her  in  caring 
for  them,  and  finally  the  entire  support  of  the 
family  fell  upon  him.  On  the  10th  of  January, 
1831,  he  came  to  this  county,  where  he  purchased 
forty  acres  of  wild  land  and  erected  a  log  cabin. 
He  staid  there  that  season,  raised  one  crop,  and  in 
the  fall  returned  to  Kentucky  and  brought  his 
mother  and  her  family  to  hi's  home.  The  children 
then  consisted  of  two  sisters  and  a  brother.  Elisha 
had  learned  the  bricklayer's  trade  in  the '  South, 
and  followed  it  at  times  after  coming  to  this  county, 
but  gave  most  of  his  attention  to  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  was  very  successful  and  invested 
his  surplus  capital  in  additional  land  until  he  be- 
came the  owner  of  2,000  acres,  lying  mostly  in 
the  central  part  of  this  State. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Linder  had  been  mindful 
of  home  comforts  and  domestic  ties,  and  April  16, 
1837,  took  unto  himself  a  wife  and  helpmate  in  the 
person  of  jMiss  Rebecca  Sawyer.  Mrs.  Linder  is 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  (Radley)  Saw- 
yer, who  were  natives  of  Kentuck}'  but  emigrated  to 
Illinois  before  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Linder.  John 
Sawyer  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Central 
Illinois  after  the  State  was  admitted  into  the  Union, 
and  became  a  prominent  and  successful  farmer. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linder  have  just  passed  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  their  marriage.  Their  children  are 
Mary,  Daniel,  Martha,  Nancy,  John,  Rebecca, 
Lillie  Ann,  Louisiana,  Flora,  Sarah,  Sidney  Jane, 
Isaac  and  Minta  Elizabeth.  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Levi  Johnson,  a  farmer  of  Barton  County,  Kan. ; 
Daniel  married  Miss  Rebecca  Hall,  and  is  also  a 
resident  of  that  county;  Martha  became  the  wife 
of  John  Parr,  and  is  now  deceased ;  Nancy  is  the 
wife  of  William  Champion,  a  farmer  of  Mattoon 
Township,  living  near  the  Linder  homestead; 
John  married  Miss  Bruuetta  Mitchell,  and  is  farm- 
ing in  Sumner  County,  Kan.;  Rebecca  became  the 
wife  of  William  Puriston,  who  is  now  deceased ; 
Mrs.  P.  occupies  a  farm  on  the  Western  Avenue 
road.  Lillie  Ann  is  the  wife  of  William  A.  Bell, 
and  lives  near  'the  old  homestead;  Flora  is  the 
wife  of  George  Howell,  a  railroad  engineer  of 
Brazil,  Ind.;  Sarah  married  John  H.  Linder,  and 
lives  near  the  homestead;  Sidney,  the  wife  of 


COLES   COUNTY 


495 


Henry  Howell,  is  a  resident  of  Mattoon;  Isaac, 
who  manages  the  home  farm  for  his  parents,  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Brotherton.  All  the  children,  with 
their  parents,  are  members  of"  the  Methodist 
Church.. 

The  first  Presidential  vote  of  Mr.  Linder  was 
cast  for  Andrew  Jackson,  but  the  second  one 
decidedly  against  "  Old  Hickory,"  as  he  considered 
that  he  had  good  reason  for  changing  his  views. 
Since  then  he  has  steadily  opposed  Democracy, 
and  although  never  taking  any  very  active  part  in 
politics,  uniformly-avails  himself  of  his  privileges 
as  a  free-born  American  citizen,  in  times  of  im- 
portant elections. 


If 


ffi  OCKARD  SWISHER,  the  owner  of  a  fine 
estate  containing  190  acres  of  valuable  land, 
located  on  section  21,  (11,  9),  Button 
Township,  is  an  honorable  repiesentative  of  one  of 
the  pioneer  families  of  this  county.  He  was  born 
July  29,  1833,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Wood)  Swisher.  His  paternal  grandparents 
were  natives  of  Maryland,  and  emigrated  to  Ohio 
at  an  early  day,  where  they  were  among  the  pio- 
neers of  Franklin  County. 

Samuel  Swisher  was  born  in  Maryland,  and  ac- 
companied the  family  to  Ohio,  remaining  with  his 
parents  until  his  marriage.  The  educational  ad- 
vantages offered  by  Ohio  were  at  that  time  very 
limited,  but  Samuel  attended  the  district  school 
during  the  winter,  and  assisted  his  father  on  the 
farm  in  the  summer,  acquiring  some  practical  ex- 
perience in  the  various  branches  of  agriculture, 
and  a  moderate  amount  of  book-learning,  as  it  was 
dispensed  in  the  early  days.  After  his  marriage 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Wood,  who  was  a  native  of 
Franklin  County,  he  engaged  in  farming  for  him- 
self on  the  estate  inherited  by  his  wife.  Their 
happy  home  there  was  soon  darkened  by  the  death 
of  his  wife.  Her  health  began  to  fail  soon  after 
the  birth  of  their  only  child,  Lockard,  and  she  died 
in  the  following  February,  1834. 

In  1835,  Samuel  Swisher  married  Mrs.  Hester 
(Fleming)  Campbell,  and  in  the  spring  of  1838  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Edgar  County,  111.  He 


remained  there  until  autumn,  and  after  looking 
about  the  country,  changed  his  location  to  Hutton 
Township,  this  county,  and  entered  eighty  acres  of 
timber  land  on  section  12,  on  the  banks  of  the  Em- 
barras  River.  He  cleared  and  improved  his  land, 
and  was  very  successful  in  business.  The  arduous 
task  of  settling  in  a  new  country,  and  the  many 
privations  of  a  pioneer's  life,  wore  upan  his  health, 
and  he  died  June  10.  1849,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five 
years.  His  widow  survived  him  several  years,  and 
died  in  the  spring  of  1858,  on  the  homestead,  leav- 
ing two  children — Martha  and  Jane,  twins,  born 
Aug.  16,  1837,  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio.  Martha 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Freezener,  and  Jives  in  Iowa; 
Jane  is  the  wife  of  John  A.  Patterson,  and  lives  in 
Edgar  County,  111. 

Lockard  Swisher  was  only  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  his  father  died,  and  he  remained  on  the 
homestead  with  his  widowed  mother  until  he  was 
twenty,  assisting  her  in  carrying  on  the  farm.  He 
was  a  bright  and  intelligent  boy,  but  could  obtain 
only  a  very  limited  education  at  the  common 
schools.  Possessing  an  enterprising  disposition,  he 
joined  a  company  composed  of  eleven  of  his  neigh- 
bors, who  had  planned  an  overland  expedition  to 
California  by  ox-teams.  It  was  a  difficult  and  per- 
ilous journey  to  undertake  at  that  early  day,  but 
they  started  out  full  of  hope  and  courage,  April  4, 
1854,  and  after  a  toilsome  and  adventurous  pil- 
grimage, arrived  safely  at  Placerville,  El  Dorado 
Co.,  Cal.,  Sept.  27,  1854.  He  found  employment 
there  in  the  gold  mines  at  $50  and  $60  per  month, 
and  remained  until  June  5,  1858,  returning  via  the 
Isthmus  and  New  York.  The  death  of  his  step- 
mother occurred  that  spring,  and  he  inherited  the 
homestead,  where  on  his  return  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  purchased  ninety  additional  acres. 

November  25,  1860,  Mr.  Swisher  was  married  to 
Miss  Louisa  Allen.  Mrs.  Swisher  was  the  daughter 
of  Jackson  and  Catherine  Allen,  and  was  born  Feb. 
2,  1840.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  South  Car- 
olina. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swisher  had  a  family  of  eight 
children  born  to  them  :  Martha  Jane  died  in  in- 
fancy;  Mary  C.,  the  wife  of  Albert  Bidle;  Laura 
A.  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen ;  Phebe  E.,  John  E., 
Henry  M.,  Polly  V.  and  Charles  C.  all  reside  on 
|  the  homestead.  After  twenty  years  of  happy 


I 


i 


t  ,    496 


COLES   COUNTY. 


married  life,  Mrs.  Swisher  was  taken  from  her  be- 
loved family  by  death,  Dec.  2,  1880.  She  was  a 
devoted  wife  and  loving  mother,  and  her  death 
was  deeply  mourned  by  her  family  and  a  large  cir- 
cle of  sympathizing  friends.  Sept.  3.  1883,  Mr. 
Swisher  was  married  to  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Mary 
(Woodruff)  Scott,  the  widow  of  John  Scott. 

In  the  autumn  of  1884,  Mr.  Swisher  exchanged 
farms  with  Mr.  M.  A.  Walker.  The  estate  he  now 
owns  contains  190  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is 
well-improved,  and  supplied  with  a  substantial 
brick  residence  and  commodious  barn.  With  his 
wife  he  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He 
is  interested  in  educational  affairs,  and  has  been 
School  Director  for  nine  years.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
Republican. 

"  ^BS    c~-a:— ;:; 


SHOMAS  J.  PEPPER,  an  extensive  land- 
owner and  breeder  of  fine  stock,  whose  op- 
erations for  the  last  five  years  have  attracted 
much  attention  in  Central  Illinois,  took  up  his 
abode  in  North  Okaw  Township  in  the  winter  of 
1880.  purchased  600  acres  of  land,  and  proceeded, 
with  the  aid  of  a  carload  of  Short-horn  cattle  which 
he  had  brought  with  him,  to  inaugurate  a  system 
of  stock-raising  which  should  be  worthy  of  imita- 
tion by  his  neighbors.  In  this  he  succeeded  ad- 
mirably, and  has  realized  from  his  transactions 
each  year  a  handsome  sum  of  money.  He  has 
lately  sold  200  acres  of  his  land,  and  purchased  a 
good  property  in  the  village  of  Humbolt.  Mr. 
Pepper  possesses  all  the  requisites  of  a  desirable 
citizen;  he  is  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity around  him,  and  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  the  Christian  Church.  Since  becom- 
ing a  voter,  he  has  been  a  warm  supporter  of  Dem- 
ocratic principles,  and  is  a  man  of  more  than  or- 
dinary ability,  as  indicated  by  the  position  which 
he  occupies  socially  and  financially. 

The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  a  native  of  England,  who  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  when  a  young  man,  and  locating  in 
Virginia,  married  and  reared  a  family,  and  it  is 
supposed,  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
Among  his  sons  was  Jesse,  a  native  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion, who  in  his  youth  removed  to  Mason  Conn- 


ty,  Ky.,  during  its  early  settlement.  He  engaged 
in  farm  pursuits  and  was  married  to  a  Miss^Lamp- 
kin.  Both  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  Jesse  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  They  never  left  the  Blue  Grass  re- 
gions, but  died  in  Mason  County,  and  their 
remains  were  laid  to  rest  near  the  home  which  the}' 
had  occupied  for  nearly  half  a  century.  The  five 
children  born  of  this  marriage  were,  Eliza;  James 
S.,  the  father  of  our  subject;  Peter  A.,  a  resident 
of  Kentucky;  Abner,  of  Virginia,  and  William, 
who  died  when  young. 

James  S.  Pepper,  who  was  the  second  child  of 
his  parents,  was  born  in  Mason  County,  Ky.,  in 
1800.  He  was  fairly  educated,  and  remained  with 
his  parents  until  reaching  years  of  manhood.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia  Worthing- 
ton,  in  1823.  She  was  born  in  Mason  County  in 
1805,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Worthing- 
ton,  a  native  of  Maryland.  After  his  marriage, 
the  father  of  our  subject  rented  land  in  Mason 
County  until  the  death  of  his  father.  He  then  pur- 
chased the  home  fann,^which  remained  his  abiding- 
place  until  he  was  called  hence.  He  was  a  man  of 
much  force  of  character,  becoming  prominent  in 
local  affairs  and  serving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  officiated  as  Captain  of 
the  State  Militia,  and  with  his  wife,  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  departed 
from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly  labors  June  7,  1875. 
The  mother  survived  until  Jan.  20,  1878,  also  dy- 
ing at  the  old  homestead.  They  were  laid  side  by 
side  in  the  Minerva  burying-ground,  in  Mason 
County.  Their  twelve  children  were  named  re- 
spectively, Elizabeth,  Ann,  Fannie,  Mary,  John  E., 
Lydia,  Maria  C.,  Amanda  J.,  Thomas  J.,  Alice, 
Vachel  M.  and  William  H.  They  lived  to  become 
men  and  women,  and  most  of  them  married  and 
had  families  of  their  own. 

The  subject  of  this  history  was  born  in  Mason 
County,  Ky.,  Jan.  8,  1841.  He  received  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  the  district  school,  and  re- 
mained at  home  until  his  marriage,  June  2,  1874. 
The  maiden  of  his  choice  was  Miss  Jennie  Spencer, 
a  native  of  his  own  county,  and  born  Feb.  15, 
1858.  Her  parents,  Thomas  and  Betty  Spencer, 
were  natives  respective!}'  of  Virginia  and  Ken- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


497 


tucky.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Pepper  commenced 
buying  and  selling  leaf  tobacco,  and  was  thus  oc- 
cupied for  ten  years  following  with  excellent  re- 
sults. He  came  to  Coles  County  in  the  winter  of 
1 880,  and  his  subsequent  life  we  have  already  in- 
dicated. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pepper  have  no  children. 

—••->+<-» •% 


R.  FULLER.  Among  the  descendants  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Coles  County,  the 
name  of  R.  R.  Fuller  is  worthy  of  an  honor- 
place.  He  is  one  of  the  partners  in  the 
firm  of  Fuller  Bros.,  dealers  in  lumber  and  manu- 
facturers of  wire  and  slat  fencing  in  Charleston 
Township.  He  was  born  Feb.  6,  1861,  in  this 
county,  and  is  the  son  of  William  N.  and  Phyneta 
M.  (Ellis)  Fuller.  The  former  is  a  native  of  Rus- 
sell County,  Va.,  and  the  latter  of  Tennessee. 

The  grandparents  of  our  subject  were  Hawkins 
and  Phoebe  (Nash)  Fuller,  natives  of  Russell 
County,  Va.  They  were  the  descendants  of  Scotch 
and  German  ancestry,  both  of  which  nationalities 
are  noted  for  thrift  and  enterprise.  Hawkins  Ful- 
ler was  a  farmer  in  Virginia  and  left  his  Eastern 
home  in  1834  to  encounter  the  trials  and  privations 
of  pioneer  life  on  the  Western  frontier.  A  tide  of 
emigration  was  then  beginning  to  sweep  in  from 
the  East,  and  the  vast  lonely  stretches  of  prairie 
were  more  frequently  broken  by  human  habitations 
than  hitherto.  The  very  early  settlers  had  usually 
located  in  or  near  the  timber,  hardly  expecting  that 
the  broad,  wild  prairies,  covered  with  tall,  rank 
grass,  over  which  the  deer  and  wolves  roamed  un- 
disturbed, would  ever  wave  with  rich  harvests  of 
golden  grain  or  become  the  safe  pasture  land  of 
vast  herds  of  cattle  and  flocks  of  sheep.  The  first 
necessity  was  to  provide  shelter  for  himself  and 
family,  which  was  soon  secured  by  erecting  one  of 
the  primitive  houses  of  the  early  pioneer  days, 
which,  though  rude  in  construction,  were  yet  made 
very  comfortable.  He  first  settled  in  North  Okaw 
Township,  of  this  county.  Settlers  began  rapidly 
to  come  in  from  the  Eastern  States,  and  the 
prosperity  of  the  county  was  greatly  increased. 
He  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  elected  in  the 
county. 

William  N.  Fuller,  who  was  only    three   months 


old  when  his  father  settled  in  North  Okaw  Town- 
ship, was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  assisting  his 
father  in  subduing  the  wilderness  and  attending  the 
primitive  school  which  the  neighborhood  afforded. 
He  acquired  much  practical  knowledge  of  the  de- 
tails of  farming,  and  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  throughout  his  life.  Besides  carrying  on 
an  extensive  farming  business  he  was  actively  in- 
terested in  public  affairs.  He  was  County  Com- 
missioner, Assessor,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  a  candidate  for  Sheriff.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat.  His  death  occurred  June  9,  1880.  His 
widow  still  survives,  and  is  a  resident  of  Charleston. 
They  had  a  family  of  five  children,  three  of  whom 
are  now  living — H.  H.  and  R.  R.,  of  the  firm  of 
Fuller  Bros.,  and  Phoebe. 

R.  R.  Fuller' was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm, 
receiving  a  good  common-school  education  in  the 
township.  After  his  father's  death  he  assumed  the 
management  of  the  farm.  In  1882  his  brother,  H. 
H.,  was  elected  County  Treasurer,  and  served  in 
that  office  for  four  years,  and  R.  R.  was  Deputy 
County  Treasurer.  In  1886  the  brothers  pur- 
chased the  lumber  business  of  W.  S.  Coon,  now 
deceased,  in  which  they  are  carrying  on  a  large 
and  extensive  business.  In  1880  H.  H.  Fuller 
married  Miss  Belle  Hitch,  a  native  of  Coles  County, 
and  the  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Permelia 
Hitch.  They  have  a  family  of  three  children — 
Winnie  W.,  Claude  C.  and  Pearl.  The  brothers 
belong  to  the  Democratic  party.  R.  R.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows'  Society,  and  also  of  the 
K.  of  P. 


E  W.  GRAY,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Hum  bolt,  is  the  leading  merchant  of  the 
village,  and  also  the  owner  of  an  estate  con- 
taining 120  acres  of  fine  farming  land  in  the  vicin- 
ity. He  was  born  June  3,  1827,  in  Greene  County, 
Pa.,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Rhoda  (Bane) 
Gray.  John  Gray  was  likewise  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Bas- 
ton)  Gray.  He  was  a  farmer  and  miller  by  occu- 
pation, and  in  1830  left  his  native  State,  moving 
further  westward,  and  settled  in  Athens  County, 

•*- 


i 


.  i   498 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Ohio,  purchasing  a  farm  in  Hocking  Valley.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  he  cultivated  his  farm,  and  in  the 
winter  operated  the  Athens  mill,  for  the  firm  of 
Miles  <fe  Matheny.  He  was  successful  in  both  lines 
of  business,  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life 
there,  his  death  occurring  in  1848.  His  wife  was 
the  daughter  of  Mordecai  Bane,  and  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania. 

George  Gray  was  a  graduate  of  the  High  School 
at  New  Albany,  Athens  County,  and  at  the  close 
of  his  studies  there,  determined  to  enter  one  of  the 
professions,  and  with  this  aim  in  view,  began  the 
study  of  medicine  at  Hibbardsville,  under  the  in- 
struction of  Dr.  Dixon.  At  the  close  of  the  first 
year  his  preceptor  died,  which  event  influenced 
him  to  change  his  plans.  He  returned  to  the  farm 
and  engaged  in  its  various  duties,  and  about  a  year 
later  his  father's  death  occurred.  This  event 
caused  a  change  in  family  affairs,  and  he  then  de- 
cided to  come  west.  On  his  arrival  in  Illinois,  he 
first  located  at  Jacksonville,  and  remained  there  a 
year,  engaged  in  stock-dealing  with  an  uncle.  He 
then  caine  to  Coles  County,  and  operated  a  saw 
and  grist  mill  near  Westfield,  for  the  firm  of  Brown 
&  Hite.  The  business  proved  successful,  and  he 
remained  there  seven  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  took  charge  of  the  Westfield  mill 
for  three  years,  and  then  moved  to  Charleston, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with  Mr. 
1 1  nil  111:1  n.  He  remained  there  from  1860  to  1865, 
and  then  left  Charleston  and  opened  a  grocery  store 
at  Humbolt.  Five  years  later  he  enlarged  his  busi- 
ness, making  it  a  general  store,  and  has  since  made 
this  place  his  home. 

April  24,  1855,  Mr.  Gray  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Brown.  Her  parents,  William  and  Clara 
(Salmon)  Brown,  were  natives  of  Ohio,  but  subse- 
quently removed  to  Madison,  Ind.,  where  Mrs. 
Gray  was  born.  April  18,  1836.  Mr.  Brown  was 
an  engineer  and  mechanic,  and  successfully  carried 
on  his  trade  in  Madison.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray  had 
a  family  of  eight  children,  only  four  of  whom  are 
now  living.  The  following  is  their  record :  Mari- 
etta, Mary,  Belle,  Rhoda,  Clara,  William,  Jennie 
Maude  and  Jessie  Blanche.  Belle  became  the  wife 
of  Thomas  I.  Smith,  a  farmer  residing  in  this  town- 
ship ;  Rhoda,  Jennie  and  Jessie  reside  at  home.  The 


daughters  are  accomplished  young  ladies,  and 
Rhoda  is  a  graduate  of  the  Oxford  Female  College, 
of  Ohio.  She  possesses  a  vigorous  mind  and  en- 
joys active  employment.  She  is  a  fine  musician, 
and  utilizes  her  talent  by  giving  instructions  in 
music,  and  spends  her  leisure  time  assisting  her 
father  in  the  store. 

Mr.  Gray  has  been  successful  in  both  of  his  busi- 
ness enterprises.  In  conducting  his  farm  he  gives 
special  attention  to  stock-growing,  and  has  com- 
menced raising  thoroughbreds.  He  possesses  an 
unusual  degree  of  executive  ability,  supervising 
his  farm  and  store  with  equal  facility.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster  by  Andrew  Johnson,  and  re- 
tained the  office  until  the  reins  of  Government 
changed  hands,  filling  the  position  ably  and  satis- 
factorily. Mr.  Gray  has  been  a  Deacon  and 
Trustee  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  many  years, 
and  is  always  interested  in  promoting  measures  cal- 
culated to  benefit  the  community.  He  owns  his 
store  and  residence,  besides  several  vacant  lots  in 
town  and  other  property.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
stanch  Republican. 


B.  GRIFFIN,  an  extensive  dealer  in  hay, 
feed  and  grain,  is  one  of  the  successful  and 
enterprising  citizens  of  Charleston.  He  was 
born  June  27,  1847,  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and 
is  the  son  of  Asahel  and  Annie  (Phelps)  Griffin. 
Asahel  Griffin  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods  in  Ohio,  which  State  Is  noted  for  its 
manufacturing  facilities,  possessing  abundant  water- 
power,  coal,  wool,  timber  and  other  raw  materials. 
In  1851  his  establishment  was  entirely  destroyed 
by  fire — his  stock,  notes,  books  and  papers,  all  be- 
ing lost,  except  his  home.  This  serious  interrup- 
tion to  the  progress  of  his  business  resulted  in  his 
emigration  to  Illinois. 

There  were  no  railroads  at  that  early  day,  and 
Asahel  Griffi'u  brought  with  him  the  first  steam- 
engine  ever  used  in  Coles  County.  He  came  via 
the  Ohio  and  Wabash  Rivers,  by  canal  to  Terre 
Haute  and  thence  by  ox-teams  to  Charleston. 
With  this  engine  he  engaged  in  milling  and  carding, 


LIBRARY 

»f  iu.ir.of8 


COLES   COUNTY. 


501 


in  company  with  James  Kennedy,  Si1.  His  death 
occurred  in  1854,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  the 
township.  His  wife  had  previously  died  in  1852. 
They  had  a  family  of  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  now  living:  Eunice,  Mrs.  S.  M.  Thrall,  a  resi- 
dent of  Cheney,  Kan. ;  Charles  A.,  a  resident  of 
Muscatine,  Iowa;  Cassius  A.,  a  resident  of  Indiana, 
and  G.  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  home  life  of  G.  B.  Griffin  was  broken  up  by  the 
death  of  both  his  parents,  and  he  was  thrown  upon 
the  world  to  begin  the  battle  of  life,  when  a  mere 
boy.  Until  1857  he  found  a  home  with  his  uncle, 
Lemuel  Griffin,  and  then  lived  with  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Quimby,  until  1860.  He  next  made  his  home  with 
R.  M.  Parcels,  now  a  resident  of  Denver,  Col., 
where  he  remained  until  1867,  and  subsequently 
worked  in  the  woolen  factory  until  1877.  His  next 
business  venture  was  to  purchase  an  interest  in  a 
house-furnishing  store  in  company  with  R.  F.  &  G. 
T.  McNutt,  under  the  firm  name  of  McNutt, 
Griffin  &  Co.  In  1881  Mv.  Griffin  disposed  of  his 
interest  in  the  store  to  George  N.  Gage,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Tombstone,  Ariz.  He  then  purchased 
of  Harry  Jeffries,  the  partner  of  R.  F.  McNutt,  his 
interest  in  the  hay  press,  and  a  little  later  bought 
out  the  firm.  He  continued  this  business  success- 
fully until  1884,  when  he  was  visited  by  the  same 
calamity  which  had  overtaken  his  father  in  Ohio. 
His  establishment  was  destroyed  by  fire,  over  300 
tons  of  hay  were  consumed,  and  his  machinery 
lost.  The  loss  was  $4,000,  $3,000  of  which  was 
fortunately  covered  by  insurance. 

Mr.  G.  next  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the 
grocery  store  of  R.  F.  McNutt,  under  the  firm  name 
of  McNutt  &  Griffin,  and  continued  the  business 
until  1885,  in  the  meantime,  in  the  spring  of  1885, 
commencing  the  hay  business  at  Ashmore.  In 
July,  1885,  he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  grocery 
store  to  Riley  Reynolds,  and  in  the  same  year  built 
a  large  hay  barn,  located  west  of  the  stockyards  in 
Charleston.  In  1886  he  purchased  the  grain  ele- 
vator of  the  Gage  estate,  and  has  since  run  both 
of  his  hay  presses  in  connection  with  the  elevator. 
He  is  now  extensively  engaged  in  shipping  hay, 
his  trade  extending  to  New  York,  Ohio,  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  Jersey,  Virginia,  North  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Florida,  Louisiana,  Alabama,  Tennessee, 


Missouri  and  throughout  Illinois.  He  pays  to  his 
employes  several  hundred  dollars  per  week  in 
wages. 

Mr.  Griffin  was  married,  in  1868,  to  Miss  Nora 
Strickland,  the  daughter  of  Robeut  Strickland. 
The}'  have  an  interesting  family  of  four  children: 
Ora,  who  is  attending  school  in  Northampton, 
Mass.;  Clyde,  a  farmer  residing  in  Kansas;  Max 
and  Ina,  who  are  at  home  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Griffin  has  passed  through  manj-  business 
vicissitudes,  from  boyhood,  and  successfully  en- 
countered and  overcome  obstacles,  which,  if  met 
with  less  courage  and  energy,  might  have  proved 
disastrous.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
socially  belongs  to  the  Royal  Templars.  With  his 
wife  and  two  eldest  children,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  is  an  Elder. 


YMAN  T.  YEARGIN,  editor  of  the  Oak- 
land  Weekly  Ledger,  is  the  son  of  James  S. 
Yeargin,  Postmaster  at  Oakland,  and  was 
born  in  Edgar  County,  111.,  March  9,  1859.  For 
ten  years  he  resided  with  his  father's  family,  then, 
removing  to  Oakland  with  his  father,  he  attended 
the  High  School,  and  was  graduated  at  the  age  of 
thirteen.  He  then  entered  the  law  office  of  his 
father,  where  he  pursued  a  course  of  study  twelve 
months,  and  in  1875_went  to  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  and 
entered  Cornell  University,  from  the  law  depart- 
ment of  which  he  was  graduated  when  eighteen 
years  old.  Returning  to  Oakland,  he  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  until  his  father 
started  the  Oakland  Weekly  Ledger,  which,  by  hard 
work,  economy  and  strict  attention  to  business,  he 
has  made  the  leading  local  paper  in  Coles  County, 
and  probably  in  Central  Illinois. 

At  different  times,  Mr.  Yeargin  has  been  con- 
nected with  papers  at  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  and  other 
prominent  cities,  and  thus  gained  a  good  insight 
into  the  methods  of  newspaper  management.  He 
became  connected  with  the  Ledger  editorially  in 
1884.  He  is  a  clear  and  forcible  writer,  a  first- 
class  journalist,  and  a  favorite  among  the  newspa- 
per fraternity,  as  well  as  in  the  social  circles  of 
Oakland.  His  marriage  with  Miss  Minnie  E.  Lamb, 


f 


502 


COLES   COUNTY. 


of  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  was  celebrated  at  the  home 
of  the  bride's  parents  Dec.  26,  1885.  Mrs.  Y.  is 
the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Ross) 
Lamb,  and  was  born  in  Richmond,  Madison  Co., 
Ky.,  July  4, -1867.  Her  great-grandfather  served 
under  Gen.  Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  was  on  duty  at  the  time  of  the  surrender  of 
Yorktown  by  the  British. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yeargin  have  become  the  parents 
of  one  child,  Cecil  Potter,  born  Jan.  14,  1887. 
They  occupy  a  pleasant  home  in  the  western  part 
of  the  city,  and  number  among  their  warmest 
friends  the  best  people  of  the  place.  With  an  at- 
tractive home,  a  well-equipped  newpaper office  that 
is  doing  a  good  business,  and  the  consciousness 
that  he  has  the  best  wishes  of  the  community  in 
his  efforts  to  assist  in  its  progress  and  advance- 
ment, Mr.  Yeargin  has  reason  to  be  contented  with 
his  lot  and  hopeful  for  the  future.  As  a  repre- 
sentative young  journalist,  we  take  pleasure  in  pre- 
senting the  portrait  of  Mr.  Yeargin  on  a  preceding 
page. 


j^ILLIAM  JOHNSON,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  section  28,  North  Okaw  Township, 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  County 
Fermanagh,  Ireland.  He  was  born  March  22,  1822, 
and  remained  there  until  twenty-eight  years  of  age, 
when  he  came  to  the  United  States. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  John  and  Annie 
(Bell)  Johnson,  were  born  and  married  in  County 
Fermanagh.,  and  after  the  birth  of  nine  children 
started  with  their  family  for  the  United  States. 
Their  subsequent  history  is  briefly  given  in  a 
sketch  of  John  Johnson,  which  will  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  William  Johnson,  with 
his  parents,  after  a  voyage  of  thirteen  weeks  on  a 
sailing-vessel,  landed  in  New  York  City,  whence 
they  started  after  a  few  days  for  Moultrie  County, 
111.  Circumstances,  however,  detained  them  for  a 
while  in  Peru,  and  our  subject  took  a  contract  for 
burning  a  kiln  of  lime  for  which  he  was  to  receive 
$44.  After  his  work  was  completed,  however,  he 


was  enabled  to  collect  but  $9  for  his  labor,  on  ac- 
count of  a  worthless  employer.  They  went  on  to 
Moultrie  County,  where  the  father  rented  a  tract  of 
land,  which  became  his  by  purchase  the  year  fol- 
lowing. William,  in  common  with  his  brothers,  as- 
sisted in  the  building  up  of  the  homestead,  and  in 
February,  1851,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Nancy  (Curry)  Ellis.  After  becoming  the  mother 
of  one  child,  a  son,  whom  they  named  John  W., 
she  departed  this  life  in  December,  1853.  Her  lit- 
tle son  died  when  three  years  and  six  months  old. 
The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was 
married  April  1,  1856,  was  formerly  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
(Miller)  Drake.  She  was  born  in  Lafayette  Town- 
ship, this  county,  July  22,  1834,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Mary  A.  (Price)  Miller,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Ireland  and  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  married  in  Ohio  and  emigrated  to  this  county 
in  1827,  settling  in  Lafayette  Township.  Mr.  Miller 
entered  a  tract  of  land,  and  with  his  family  endured 
all  the  hardships  and  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life, 
and  was  remarkably  prosperous  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil,  becoming  in  time  the  owner  of  500 
acres.  The  mother  departed  this  life  in  April, 
1846.  Mr.  Miller  survived  until  March,  1862. 
The  remains  of  both  were  buried  in  Bethel  Church- 
yard, and  they  are  remembered  as  people  worthy 
of  the  highest  esteem.  Their  seven  children  were 
named  respectively :  William,  now  deceased ;  Peter; 
Sarah;  Samuel,  deceased;  Henry,  Mary  J.,and  Rob- 
ert, the  last  mentioned  also  deceased.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Miller  was  married,  in 
1846,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Bates)  Martin.  This  lady 
is  still  living  with  her  son,  Charles  Martin,  in  La- 
fayette Township.  Of  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Mil- 
ler there  were  born  three  children  :  Thomas,  Rachael, 
and  Scott,  the  latter  being  the  only  one  living.  Her 
parents  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  the 
father  acting  as  Deacon  for  forty  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  enterprise  and  energy,  and  during  the 
latter  years  of  his  life  occupied  himself  largely  in 
the  raising  of  live  stock,  and  was  the  first  man  to 
introduce  the  better  grades  of  the  domestic  animals 
into  Coles  County.  He  at  one  time  owned  a  Chero- 
kee stallion  for  which  he  paid  $1,500.  He  pur- 
chased the  first  Durham  introduced  into  the  county 
and  in  various  other  ways  was  the  leader  in  the  de- 


f 


COLES   COUNTY. 


503 


velopmeut  of  its  most  important  interests.  He 
served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  several  years 
and  was  also  School  Director  and  Trustee. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  active  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  house  was 
the  home  of  the  ministers,  in  which  they  were  al- 
ways made  welcome.  In  1858  our  subject  pur- 
chased the  land  which  constitutes  his  present  home- 
stead, and  on  which  he  has  resided  continuously  for 
nearly  thirty  years.  He  has  for  a  number  of  years 
served  as  School  Director  and  Trustee.  With  his 
excellent  wife  he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  Stew- 
ard for  fifteen  years  and  Trustee  for  twelve  years. 

The  children  of  William  and  Mary  J.  Johnson, 
seven  in  number,  are  recorded  as  follows :  Robert, 
born  Jan.  22,  1857,  died  Aug.  11,1859;  John,  born 
June  29,  1859,  died  Sept.  19,  1866;  Robert  M., 
born  June  3,  1861,  was  married  Aug.  14,  1883,  to 
Miss  Ella  Crumm,  and  has  charge  of  his  father's 
farm;  Anna  was  born  March  14,  1863;  Jennie, 
April  4,  1865,  and  Franklin  A.,  Dec.  29,  1868;  an 
infant  daughter,  born  Oct.  10,  1873,  died  Oct.  17, 
.  1873. 

The  first  husband  of  Mrs.  Johnson  was  John 
Drake,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  one  child,  a  son,  John  T.,  who  was  born 
Feb.  24,  1853,  and  died  Oct.  28,  1858.  William 
Miller,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  J.,  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  was  married  in  his  native 
county  to  Miss  Rachael  Art.  He  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  settled  first  in  Pennsylvania, 
whence  he  removed  after  a  few  years  to  Ohio,  tak- 
ing up  his  abode  on  the  Miami  River,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  His  widow  and 
children  afterward  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Lawrence  County,  where  Grandmother  Miller  died 
in  1857,  aged  about  one  hundred  years.  Both  she 
and  her  husband  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Their  seven  children  were  named  respect- 
ively, Robert,  John,  Rachael,  Elizabeth,  Thomas 
Samuel  and  Belinda. 

From  1850  until  about  1865  William  Johnson 
and  his  brothers,  James,  Irvin,  John  and  Frederick, 
operated  together  on  a  large  tract  of  land,  being 
owners  of  nearly  1,000  acres  and  engaged  largelj7 
iu  stock-raising.  Irvin  was  the  first  to  withdraw 


and  selected  for  his  portion  the  farm  which  he  owns 
on  section  24.  In  1882  our  subject  withdrew,  and 
was  also  given  his  choice  of  the  land  left,  which  he 
now  occupies.  Since  the  death  of  James,  John  and 
Frederick  have  operated  together.  This  is  a  re- 
markable instance  of  a  family  of  brothers  who 
worked  together  harmoniously  for  many  years,  and 
of  whom  all  are  living  witli  the  exception  of  James, 
who  was  accidentally  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a 
boiler. .  They  have  done  much  toward  the  building 
up  of  North  Okaw  Township,  and  their  names  will 
be  long  remembered  after  they  are  gathered  to  their 
fathers. 


1*  RWIN  W.  SAIN.  On  section  6,  in  Morgan 
Township,  lies  a  good  farm  of  210  acres,  em- 
bellished with  a  handsome  and  substantial  set 
of  buildings,  including  one  of  the  finest  residences 
in  Coles  County,  a  view  of  which  appears  on  an- 
other page.  The  homestead  forms  one  of  the  most 
attractive  features  in  the  landscape,  being  enclosed 
with  neat  and  substantial  fences,  well  stocked  with 
good  grades  of  the  domestic  animals,  and  kept  in 
first-class  order.  The  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the 
proprietor,  who  is  the  subject  of  the  following 
notice,  is  apparent  on  every  hand,  and  is  a  fine  il- 
lustration of  what  may  be  accomplished  by  per- 
severance, industry  and  ample  means.  The  main 
points  in  his  career  a-e  noted  as  follows : 

Mr.  Sain,  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  was  born 
in  Hocking  County,  Oct.  23,  1846,  and  is  the  son 
of  James  Q.  and  Lucinda  (Wright)  Sain,  natives 
respectively  of  Fairfield  and  Vinton  Counties,  the 
same  State.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject was  Philip  Sain,  who  passed  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  in  Ohio,  where  his  remains  were  laid  to  rest 
near  the  town  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  The  mother  de- 
scended from  German  ancestry,  but  her  people  had 
been  residents  of  Ohio  for  two  or  three  generations. 
To  the  grandparents  of  our  subject  there  were 
born  eleven  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  are  recorded  as  follows :  James  Q.,  a 
resident  of  Douglas  County,  this  State,  and  a  man 
of  good  education,  is  living  retired  on  a  com- 


504 


COLES  COUNTY. 


petency  ;  Samuel  continues  a  resident  of  Ohio ;  Allen 
deals  in  fine  horses  at  Indianapolis,  Ind. ;  Athelinda, 
who  was  first  married  to  a  Mr.  Kitchmiller,  who  was 
killed  in  battle  during  the  late  war,  subsequently 
married  Hiram  Poole,  and  lives  in  El  Dorado,  Kan. ; 
John  is  farming  in  Indiana;  Isaiah  F.  is  a  resident 
of  Ohio; Lemuel,  of  Topeka,  Kan.;  Caroline,  David 
and  Harvey  are  in  Ohio,  the  first  mentioned  the 
wife  of  George  W.  Johnson. 

James  Sain  first  came  to  Illinois  in  March,  1860, 
and  located  at  Kansas  Station,  Edgar  County,  but 
did  not  make  any  purchase  of  land  until  four  years 
later,  when  he  bought  120  acres  which  were  im- 
proved, and  which  he  occupied  until  1866.  He 
sold  out  and  rented  for  two  years,  and  in  1868 
purchased  2!  6  acres,  including  some  of  the  choicest 
land  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  where  he  carried 
on  farming  until  February,  1886.  Then  deciding 
to  abandon  active'  labor  for  a  time,  he  rented  his 
farm  for  $1,150  cash  per  year  for  three  years,  and  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Arcola,  Douglas  County, 
where  he  now  resides.  His  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucinda  Wright  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1844,  at 
the  home  of  the  bride  in  Seven  Hickory  Township. 
Mrs.  Sain  is  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lovina 
Wright,  of  Ohio,  who  were  the  parents  of  thirteen 
children,  eight  now  living.  Of  these,  one  is  now 
in  Iowa,  two  in  Illinois,  and  the  balance  on  the 
homestead  in  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright  are  de- 
ceased. 

James  Sain  and  wife  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children:  Irwin  W.,  the  eldest,  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Milton,  a  farmer  of  Douglas  County, 
111.,  is  married  and  has  one  child ;  Vinton,  unmar- 
ried, is  dealing  in  real  estate  at  El  Dorado,  Kan.; 
Homer,  a  farmer  and  stock-trader,  makes  his  head- 
quarters on  the  home  farm ;  Richard  Harvey,  a  far- 
mer of  Douglas  County,  is  married,  and  has  two 
children  living  and  two  deceased ;  Lovina  Ann, 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Harr,  is  living  on  a  farm  in  Da- 
kota, and  is  the  mother  of  five  children;  Caroline 
is  living  with  her  parents  in  Arcola;  Mary,  a  teach- 
er, is  still  at  home.  The  parents  are  enjoying  good 
health,  and  are  still  regular  attendants  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  they  have 
been  connected  for  a  number  of  years.  The  father 
identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party  at  its 


organization,  and  has  been  a  stanch  adherent  of  its 
principles  since  that  time. 

Our  subject  remained  under  the  home  roof  until 
after  reaching  his  majority,  receiving  a  common- 
school  education  and  becoming  acquainted  with  the 
best  methods  of  carrying  on  a  farm.  He  was  am- 
bitious and  industrious,  and  began  early  in  life  to 
lay  his  plans  for  the  future.  His  marriage  took 
place  in  Seven  Hickory  Township.  June  16,  1870, 
his  chosen  bride  being  Miss  Eliza  Belle,  daughter 
of  James  W.  and  Mary  (O'Hair)  Frazier,  who  are 
treated  of  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Her  grandfather 
served  all  through  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  the 
family,  wherever  known,  were  people  who  uni- 
versally enjoyed  the  respect  of  their  community. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sain  there  were  born[five  children, 
as  follows:  Cora,  born  in  June,  1872;  Lulu,  born  in 
September,  1874,  and  died  in  November  following; 
Jessie,  born  in  August,  1876;  Louisiana,  in  Sep- 
tember. 1879,  and  James  Walter  on  Christmas  Day 
in  1886. 

About  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Sain  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  in  Morgan  Township,  to 
which  his  father  added  an  equal  amount  a  short 
time  afterward.  Our  subject,  in  1874.  increased 
his  landed  area  to  160  acres,  and  the  following  year 
purchased  fifty  acres  more,  so  that  he  now  has  210 
acres  which  he  has  brought  to  a  fine  state  of  culti- 
vation. The  improvements  which  attract  the  eye 
of  the  passer-by  are  mostly  his  own,  which  he  has 
brought  about  by  a  wise  investment  of  funds  and 
the  supervision  of  the  work  going  on  around  him, 
trusting  little  to  other  hands.  He  has  been  engaged 
largely  in  raising  grain  and  broom  corn,  and  buy- 
ing large  quantities  of  the  latter,  of  which,  during 
the  past  seventeen  years  he  has  shipped  1,700  car- 
loads. Most  of  this  has  gone  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  has  a  brother-in-law  dealing  in  this  commodity, 
and  to  whom  of  late  years  he  has  shipped  from  200 
to  250  carloads  a  year.  He  has  also  sent  large 
quantities  to  Philadelphia  and  Chicago.  Mr.  Sain 
has  raised  fine  cattle  to  some  extent  and  has  twenty 
head  of  horses. 

Our  subject,  although  having  plenty  of  private 
business  to  engage  his  attention,  has  served  as  Com- 
missioner of  Highways  in  his  township,  and  inter- 
ested himself  in  the  welfare  of  the  Christian  Church 


11 


,1= 


COLES   COUNTY. 


505 


at  Rural  Retreat.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  at  Charleston,  has  also  been  interested  in  the 
Grange  movement  in  Morgan  Township,  and  polit- 
ically, affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party,  with 
which  his  mother's  people  were  identified,  while  his 
father  was  a  Republican. 


I 


VATRICK  REILLY,  Master  Mechanic  of  the 
P.,  D.  <fe  E.  R.  R.  Co..  is  one  of  the  prom- 
inent  citizens  of  Mattoon.  He  is  the  son 
)J\  of  Edwin  and  Elizabeth  (Mulligan)  Reilly, 
and  was  born  March  9,  1833,  in  County  Meath, 
Ireland.  Edwin  Reilly  emigrated  to  America  in 
1835,  and  settled  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  but  not  feeling 
satisfied  with  his  surroundings  there,  he  resolved  to 
move  farther  westward  with  his  family,  and  came 
to  Toledo,  Ohio,  where  he  found  a  good  opening 
for  employment,  and  made  that  city  his  home  for 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  an  active,  ener- 
getic man,  and  endeavored  to  give  his  children  the 
best  education  which  the  early  days  afforded.  He 
had  a  family  of  eleven  children  :  Patrick,  Bernard, 
Edward,  Margaret,  Kate,  Elizabeth,  John,  William, 
James  and  Mary;  Edward,  John  and  an  infant  un- 
named are  deceased.  The  elder  Reilly  became  a 
patriotic  citizen  of  his  adopted  country,  and  in 
politics  always  voted  the  Democratic  ticket. 

Patrick  Reilly  was  an  infant  when  his  parents 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  make  their  home  in  a  new 
country.  He  received  a  practical  education,  and 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  found  employment  with 
the  Syracuse  &  Utica  Railroad  Co.  Having  gained 
some  experience  in  the  railroad  business,  he  ob- 
tained a  position  as  machinist  on  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  in  Chicago,  which  he  retained  several 
years.  He  was  then  general  foreman  for  the  C.,  B. 
&  Q.  R.  R.  for  a  long  time,  and  in  1880  was  offered 
his  present  position  on  the  P.,  D.  &  E.  R.  R.  He 
has  the  supervision  of  from  seventy  to  ninety  men 
in  the  shops,  and  from  thirty  to  fifty  engineers  and 
firemen  on  the  railroad.  He  is  faithful  and  reliable 
in  the  discharge  of  his  important  duties,  and 
possesses  the  entire  confidence  of  the  company  by 
whom  he  is  employed. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Reilly   was  married  to  Miss  Mary 


Duffy,  the  daughter  of  Christopher  Duffy.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Reilly  have  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  Lizzie,  Mary,  William, 
Katie.  Annie,  Charles,  Drusilla,  Nellie,  Lucy, 
Emily  and  George.  Drusilla  is  a  graduate  of  the 
High  School  of  Mattoon.  Mary  became  the  wife 
of  Frank  Flemming,  who  is  book-keeper  for  a  mer- 
cantile house  in  Montana,  where  they  now  reside ; 
she  is  the  mother  of  one  daughter,  named  Helen. 
William  is  storekeeper  for  the  P.,  D.  &  E.  R.  R.  at 
Mattoon,  and  chief  clerk  for  his  father;  he  was 
elected  Alderman  of  the  Third  Ward  by  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  served  two  years  in  that  capacity. 
Charles  is  a  mechanic  in  the  P.,  D.  &  E.  R.  R.  shops 
in  this  city. 

Mr.  Reilly  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party.  He 
is  a  man  of  excellent  business  qualifications,  and  a 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Mattoon. 


;ILLIAM  SHAFER,  a  retired  farmer  living 
in  the  village  of  Ashmore,  was  one  of  the 
gallant  soldiers  who  offered  his  life  in  the 
defense  of  his  country,  and  although  spared  from 
death  on  the  battle-field,  has  been  a  sufferer  all  his 
life.  He  was  born  Jan.  25,  1826,  in  Jefferson 
County,  Ky.,  and  is  the  son  of  Joseph  F.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Evinger)  Shafer,  his  father  born  in  Germany, 
and  his  mother  a  native  of  Kentucky. 

Joseph  Shafer  was  a  successful  farmer,  possessing 
that  shrewdness  in  financial  affairs  characteristic  of 
his  nationality.  He  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  the  State,  having  come  to  Illinois  in  the  year 
1836.  where  he  identified  himself  with  the  interests 
of  his  adopted  country.  His  wife  and  himself 
were  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
were  actively  interested  in  promoting  the  cause  of 
religion  on  the  Western  frontier.  His  wife  died  in 
1850  at  the  age  of  1'orty-two.  He  survived  her 
several  years,  and  died  in  Tuscola,  Douglas  Co., 
111.  Their  family  comprised  sixteen  children,  four 
of  whom  are  deceased.  Their  names  are:  John; 
William,  the  subject  of  this  biography ;  George, 
Catherine,  David,  Samuel,  Solomon,  Mary,  Henry, 


506 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Lewis,  Alexander,  Sarah,  Nancy,  Henry,  and  two 
who  died  in  infancy. 

December  20,  1848,  William  Shafer  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Skinner,  by  Rev. 
William  Brown,  pastor  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  at  Westfield,  Clark  Co.,  111.  His  wife  was 
born  in  Canada,  July  6, 1824.  Her  family  came  to 
the  States  when  she  was  a  child,  and  first  located  in 
Indiana,  where  her  father  died.  After  the  death  of 
Mr.  Skinner,  his  widow  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
family  of  seven  children,  where  her  death  occurred 
in  1866.  The  names  of  her  children  are:  Mary 
S.,  Joseph,  John,  Sarah,  Catherine,  Lev!  and  Adam. 

Mrs.  Shafer  is  a  lady  of  unusual  mental  ability 
and  force  of  character.  She  has  reared  a  family  of 
eight  children,  in  the  training  and  education  of 
whom  she  has  been  obliged  to  some  extent  to  take 
the  part  of  both  father  and  mother,  as  her  husband 
has  the  misfortune  to  be  totally  blind,  his  eye- 
sight having  been  permanently  injured  during  his 
service  in  the  Civil  War.  The  record  of  their  chil- 
dren is  as  follows:  John,  born  Nov.  30,  1849. 
married  Miss  Alice  Holladay ;  William,  born  Sept. 
4,  1851,  married  Miss  Mary  Roberts:  Hannah  E.. 
born  Nov.  24,  1853,  married  William  King; 
Joseph  A.,  born  Dec.  21,  1855,  married  Josephine 
Roberts;  Martha,  born  Nov.  23,  1858;  Henry,  born 
April  13,  1860,  married  Susan  Wilkins;  Winfield 
S.,  born  July  19,  1862,  died  April  29,  1882;  Elmer 
E.,  born  July  8,  1866. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr. 
Shafer  enlisted,  Aug.  1,  1862,  in  Co.  F,  123d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Mattoon,  111. 
He  was  encamped  there  about  six  weeks  before 
marching  to  the  front,  and  thence  was  ordered  to 
Kentucky.  He  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Hoover's  Gap,  after  which  his  eyes  began  to 
trouble  him  so  severety  that  he  was  ordered  to  the 
rear  and  sont  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  in  the 
hospital  from  July  1,  1863,  to  March  6,  1865,  when 
he  returned  home.  His  .eyesight  was  finally  lost 
beyond  the  power  of  restoration,  and  this  affliction 
has,  in  a  measure,  unfitted  him  for  the  duties  of 
life.  Besides  his  pleasant  home  in  the  village  he 
owns  a  farm  of  eighty-seven  acres,  which  is  in  a 
line  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shafer  are  actively  interested  mem- 


bers  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr. 
Shafer  is  a  man  of  much  intelligence  and  influence 
in  the  township,  notwithstanding  his  affliction.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


L.  MAJOR,  dealer  in  grain,  including 
corn,  wheat  and  oats,  for  a  Peoria  firm, 
Tyng,  Hall  &  Co.,  is  doing  a  flourishing 
business  at  Mattoon,  located  near  the  P.,  D.  &  E. 
R.  R.  track,  where  he  has  operated  since  1 882,  and 
has  become  an  important  factor  in  the  business 
interests  of  the  village.  He  is  a  fine  illustration  of 
the  self-made  man,  who  has  thus  far  in  life  paddled 
his  own  canoe  and  deserves  great  credit  for  his  in- 
dustry and  enterprise. 

Mr.  Major  was  born  in  Davis  County,  Ind., 
April  24,  1849,  and  is  the  son  of  John  A.  and 
Mary  J.  (McAdams)  Major,  the  former  a  native  of 
Indiana  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  John  Major 
followed  farming  during  his  early  manhood,  and 
for  a  year  operated  on  the  other  side  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi in  Keokuk  County,  Iowa,  Not  quite  satis- 
fied with  his  experiences  in  the  Hawkeye  State,  he- 
returned  to  Indiana  and  resuming  his  farming  there, 
remained  until  1868.  He  then  became  a  resident 
of  Lafayette  Township,  this  county,  and  engaged 
in  fanning  until  1870,  then  retired  to  the  village 
and  spent  the  balance  of  his  life  in  the  ease  and 
comfort  which  he  had  so  justly  earned  by  a  life  of 
industry.  He  departed  from  the  scenes  of  his 
earthly  labors  in  1875,  leaving  a  wife  and  eight 
children.  These  were  India,  Mrs.  Craycraft,  of 
Mattoon;  William  L.,  of  our  sketch;  Alice;  Male, 
who  is  clerking  in  the  dry-goods  store  of  George 
N.  Bucks  at  Mattoon ;  John  S.  and  Jennie,  twins. 
The  former  married  Miss  Cora  Hughes,  and  is  a 
resident  of  Chicago,  engaged  as  a  messenger  with 
the  American  Express  Company ;  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Jennie  became  the  wife  of  George  Gibler.  of 
Mattoon.  The  two  youngest  children  are  Mattie 
and  Grace.  John  Major  was  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  but  the  wife  and 
mother  belongs  to  the  Congregational  Church. 
Mr.  Major  spent  his  early  years  on  his  father's 


COLES   COUNTY. 


507 


farm,  receiving  the  advantages  of  a  common-school 
education.  After  reaching  his  majority  he  went 
into  Kansas  and  farmed  one  year,  then  returning 
to  Mattoon,  engaged  in  the  corn-meal  mill  of  I.  <fe 
D.  D.  James,  with  whom  he  remained  about  five 
years.  He  then  engaged  on  the  railroad  as  car 
builder  one  year,  and  established  his  present  busi- 
ness in  1881.  He  gives  employment  to  from  four 
to  eight  men. 

While  a  resident  of  Moultrie  County  Mr.  Major 
was  married,  in  the  spring  of  1885,  to  Miss  Allie 
McCaig,  of  Sullivan,  that  county.  Mrs.  Major  is  the 
daughter  of  William  McCaig,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  by  her  union  with  our  subject  has  become  the 
mother  of  one  child,  a  daughter,  Ruth.  Their 
residence  is  pleasantly  located  on  Wabash  street, 
and  is  the  resort  of  many  friends.  Mr.  M.  and  his 
wife  are  worthy  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  politically,  our  subject  is  ajstanch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  He  became 
connected  with  the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor 
in  1882. 


fl  B.  GRAY,  whose  name  is  well  known  among 
1  the  leading  citizens  of  Coles  County,  has 
retired  from  active  business,  and  is  spend- 
ing the  closing  years  of  a  long  life  of  use- 
fulness at  his  home  in  Charleston.  He  was  born 
April  7,  1816,  in  Greene  County  Pa.,  and  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Rhoda  (Bane)  Gray,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. His  great-grandfather  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  at  a  very 
early  day.  and  settled  in  Maryland.  His  grand- 
father, Judge  David  Gray,  was  born  in  that  State. 
Early  in  life,  David  Gray  removed  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  entered  an  extensive  tract  of  land  in 
Rich  Hill  Township,  Greene  County,  and  as  soon  as 
the  land  came  into  market,  he  purchased  this  claim, 
which  made  four  large  farms.  In  1 832,  his  son 
John  removed  to  Athens  County,  Ohio,  a  leading 
agricultural  State,  and  at  that  period  considered 
the  Far  West.  He  passed  the  remaining  years  of 
his  life  there  engaged  in  farming,  and  was  a  man 
of  influence  in  the  community,  interested  in  pro- 
moting all  measures  calculated  to  benefit  the  county. 
He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  both  himself 


and  his  wife  were  prominent  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  A  family  of  nine  children 
was  born  to  them,  five  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Their  record  is  as  follows:  Sarah,  the  wife  of 
Francis  Braddock,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman;  Jesse 
B.,  Isaac  P.,  John  and  George. 

Jesse  B.  Gray  lived  at  the  homestead  until  he 
was  twenty-ope  years  of  age,  where  he  acquired 
much  practical  experience  in  the  details  of  system- 
atic farming,  and  received  a  good  common-school 
education.  He  remained  on  the  homestead  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1865.  He  then  disposed 
of  his  property  there  and  came  to  Illinois,  whose 
resources  as  an  agricultural  State  were  being 
rapidly  developed.  He  bought  a  tract  of  land  con- 
taining 240  acres  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  this 
county,  and  was  successfully  engaged  in  farming 
there  until  1884,  when  he  retired  from  business  and 
purchased  his  present  residence  in  Charleston. 

In  1847,  Mr.  Gray  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Vorhees.  Mrs.  Gray  was  a  native  of  Athens 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  Peter  Vorhees. 
A  family  of  six  children  was  born  to  them,  whose 
record  is  as  follows :  Frank,  a  resident  of  Homer, 
Champaign  County,  married  Miss  Mary  Whaley, 
and  has  a  family  of  four  children — Eva,  John,  Fred 
and  Queeney ;  Rhoda,  Mrs.  Kerr,  of  Nebraska,  has  a 
family  of  four  children — Harry,  Glen,  Jesse  and 
Elsie;  Ruth,  Mrs.  McNutt,  is  a  resident  of  Seven 
Hickory  Township  and  has  a  family  of  three  children 
— Fred,  Clifford  and  Cleta;  Almira,  Mrs.  J.  Ash- 
brook,  is  a  resident  of  Seven  Hickory  Township, 
and  has  two  children — Earl  and  Claud ;  Sarah,  Mrs. 
Martin  McConnell,  is  a  resident  of  Charleston,  and 
George,  single  and  at  home. 

In  1883  the  family  circle  was  broken  by  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Gray.  The  beloved  wife  and  de- 
voted mother  was  removed  from  the  companion- 
ship of  those  whose  joys  and  sorrows  she  had 
shared  for  so  many  years,  but  only  to  await  the 
home-coming  of  her  loved  ones,  where  parting 
shall  be  no  more.  Mrs.  Gray  was  a  sincere  and 
earnest  Christian,  and  had  been  for  many  years  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  Gray  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  served 
as  School  Director  and  Commissioner  during  his  res- 
idence in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  discharging  his 


508 


COLES   COUNTY. 


public  duties  faithfully,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  community.  He  became  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  and 
throughout  a  long  life  has  honored  and  served  the 
Master,  winning  what  is  of  more  value  than  the- 
most  brilliant  earthly  success,  the  Divine  approval. 


,OL.  R.  H.  McFADDEN,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  solicitor  of  military  claims  at 
No.  9  West  Broadway,  is  one  of  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Mattoon.  He  was  born  Sept.  13, 
1833,  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son-of  Robert 
and  Nancy  (Barrett)  McFadden,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  Culpeper 
County.  Va.  Their  marriage  took  place  in  Ohio, 
where  Mr.  McFadden  was  occupied  as  a  cabinet- 
maker until  1853,  when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois, 
first  locating  in  Shelby  County.  After  remaining 
there  eighteen  months,  he  came  to  Paradise,  Coles 
County,  and  in  1855  moved  to  Mattoon.  He  there 
carried  on  a  successful  business  in  cabinet-making, 
in  which  he  was  occupied  most  of  the  time  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1880  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 
His  bereaved  widow  survived  him  only  two  years, 
and  died  in  1882  at  Mattoon.  They  had  a  family 
of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living.  Their 
names  are  as  follows :  William  W.,  a  resident  of 
Mt.  Victory,  Ohio;  Eliza,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Clark,  a 
resident  of  Fulton  County,  III. ;  Ann  M.,  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Rutherford,  a  resident  of  this  county;  R. 
H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  David  H.,  a  res- 
ident of  Lamed. 

Hugh  McFadden,  the  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland, 
and  came  to  America  at  an  early  day,  settling  in 
Carlisle,  Pa.  He  was  a  skillful  mechanic,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  there  until  1818,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  and  there  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  His  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  Wales,  died 
in  1846,  and  his  own  death  occurred  five  years 
later,  in  1851.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
of  whom  Robert  was  the  youngest.  Our  subject's 
maternal  grandparents  were  Thomas  and  Nancy 
(Thornton)  Barrett,  natives  of  Culpeper  County, 
Va.  Mr.  Barrett  was  a  farmer  in  that  State,  and 


subsequently  removed  with  his  family  to  Belmont 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  his  death,  which  resulted  from  an  accident  in 
1833.  While  riding,  his  horse  stumbled  and  fell 
upon  him,  crushing  him  so  severely  that  he  died  in 
a  few  days.  His  widow  survived  him  many  years, 
and  died  in  1852.  They  had  a  family  of  fifteen 
children,  of  whom  Nancy  was  the  youngest. 

Young  McFadden  attended  school  until  he  was 
thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  work  with 
his  father  in  the  shop  at  the  trade  of  cabinet-mak- 
ing. He  remained  there  until  he  was  sixteen  years 
of  age,  and  then  came  to  Shelby  County,  111.,  where 

!  he  was  engaged  in  cabinet-making  about  four 
years.  In  1853  .he  moved  to  Paradise,  Coles 
County,  and  after  passing  two  years  there,  changed 
his  location  to  Mattoon,  where  he  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  until  1860.  He  then  made  an- 
other change,  and  engaged  in  the  livery  business 
until  the  spring  of  1861.  He  then  responded  to 
the  call  of  his  country,  and  enlisted  as  Second 

!    Lieutenant  in  Co.  B,  7th   111.   Vol.    Inf.,    for   three 

|  months.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  re-en- 
listed in  Co.  D,  41st  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  as  First  Lieu- 
tenant, and  served  in  that  position  until  Feb.  15, 
1862,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Cap- 
tain for  his  gallant  conduct  at  the  siege  of  Ft.  Don- 
elson,  which  was  carried  on  during  one  of  the 
wildest  storms  of  a  severe  winter.  The  gunboats 
were  ordered  to  shell  the  fort  in  front,  while  the 
command  marched  to  the  rear,  through  sleet  and 
rain  and  cold  of  .such  intensity  that  the  hands  and 
feet  of  many  of  the  soldiers  were  frozen.  The  sleet 
fell  heavily  day  and  night,  throughout  the  siege, 
and  the  troops  were  entirely  unprotected  from  the 
fury  of  the  storm.  They  were  so  near  the  fortifi- 
cations that  no  fires  could  be  lighted  to  warm 
themselves  by,  and  they  had  no  food  except  the 
cold  cooked  rations  in  their  haversacks. 

July  12.  1863,  Capt.  McFadden  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Major  of  the  regiment,  and  served 
iii  that  position  until  Dec.  23,  1864,  when  he  was 
made  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  53d  Illinois  Infan- 

!  try.  July  14,  1865,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  Colonel  of  that  regiment,  and  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  same  month  they  were  mustered  out  of 
service  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  discharged  at  Chi- 


t 

t 

COLES   COUNTY.                                                                   509 

cago,  111.  Col.  McFadden  was  a  brave  and  effi- 
cient officer  throughout  his  entire  military  career, 
and  passed  through  some  of  the  hottest  charges  of 
the  enemy,  receiving  only  a  slight  wound  at  the 
siege  of  Ft.  Donelson.  After  his  return  home,  he 
took  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  dry-goods  house  one 
year,  and  then  worked  at  the  trade  of  cabinet-mak- 
ing until  1872.  He  was  then  elected  Police  Mag- 
istrate and  retained  the  position  eight  years,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
the  township.  In  1871,  he  served  one  term  as 
Mayor  of  the  city.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  Alderman,  .School  Director, 
and  served 'in  several  local  offices. 

In  1855,  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Norvell.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Grief  and 
Mary  (Woods)  Norvell,  nativ.es  of  Kentucky.  Col. 
and  Mrs.  McFadden  have  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren, whose  record  is  as  follows:  Mae  I.,  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Godfry,  a  resident  of  Indianapolis,  is  the 
mother  of  two  children — Ruth  M.  and  Nora;  John 
A.  is  a  resident  of  Peoria,  111. ;  Lizzie  M.  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Lawrence  M.  McNair,  of  this  city, 
and  is  the  mother  of  one  child,  Zillah ;  her  husband 
died  in  September,  1886,  while  in  Chicago;  Eddie 
is  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  in  this  city. 
Col.  McFadden  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  the  K.  of  H. 


JOSEPH  H.  WATKINS  is  a  prosperous  far- 
mer residing  on  section  5,  Seven  Hickory 
Township,  nine  miles  northwest  of  Charles- 
1  ton.  He  was  born  March  1,  1828,  in  County 
Wexford,  Ireland.  His  father  was  also  a  native  of 
the  same  county,  although  the  family  came  from 
Wales.  His  mother.,  Margaretta  Jackaberry,  was 
likewise  a  native  of  Ireland,  but  of  Danish  descent, 
her  family  having  come  from  Denmark  to  Ireland 
at  the  time  of  the  Revolution.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  noiv  liv- 
ing: Thomas  and  Willie,  deceased;  John  W. ; 
Rebecca,  the  widow  of  James  Steele ;  Joseph  H.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Edward;  Essie,  Mrs.  William 
Powell,  resides  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  Hattie  G., 
the  wife  of  Andrew  Porter,  also  resides  in  Cincin- 


nati; all  of  the  family  were  born  in  Ireland.  His 
parents  died  in  their  native  country,  the  father  in 
1840,  and  the  mother  in  1848. 

Joseph  Watkins'  marriage  took  place  in  his  na- 
tive county,  and  soon  after,  in  the  winter  of  1850, 
with  his  wife  and  his  younger  brother,  Edward,  he 
sailed  for  the  United  States,  seeking  to  build  a 
home  and  fortune  for  himself  in  this  land  of  free- 
dom, which  offers,  so  many  privileges  for  advance- 
ment in  life,  to  people  of  all  nationalities.  They 
landed  at  New  Orleans,  Jan  22,  1851,  and  from 
there  went  to  Butler  County,  Ohio,  where  Mr. 
Watkins  found  employment  during  the  summer  on 
a  farm,  and  in  the  winter  operated  an  engine.  In 
the  autumn  of  1854,  before  the  cold  weather  came 
on,  he  removed  to  Coles  County,  111.,  and  engaged 
in  farming  on  rented  land,  near  Charleston.  He 
remained  there  until  August,  1862.  when  he  en- 
listed in  Co.  K,  1 23d  111.  Mtd.  Inf.  After  he  had 
been  in  the  service  a  few  months,  he  was  stricken 
down  with  a  malignant  form  of  typhoid  fever, 
and  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Louisville,  Ky. 
The  disease  made  such  serious  inroads  upon  his 
health  that  he  never  recovered  sufficiently  to  join 
his  regiment,  and  in  March,  1863,  was  mustered 
out  of  service  at  Gallatin,  Tenu.,  on  account  of 
disability.  For  five  years  he  was  a  cripple  and  for 
two  years  was  confined  to  his  bed  by  sciatic  rheu- 
matism, resulting  from  the  attack  of  typhoid  fever 
from  which  he  had  suffered  while  in  the  army,  and 
which  had  settled  in  his  hip.  During  his  absence 
i  and  long  illness  his  wife  and  children  bravely  took 
I  up  the  burdens  of  life,  and  carried  on  the  farm 
quite  successfully. 

Mrs.  Joseph  Watkins  died  April  11,  18G4,  leav- 
ing a  family  of  five  children.  William,  the  eldest, 
was  born  in  Ireland;  he  married  Miss  Marietta 
Weaver,  of  Coles  County,  111.,  and  in  December, 
1863,  left  his  home  and  business  to  engage  in  the 
service  of  his  adopted  country.  Soon  after  his  en- 
listment he  was  attacked  with  measles,  which  is 
always  a  serious  malady  when  occurring  in  adult 
life,  and  especially  so  under  the  unfavorable  en- 
vironments of  the  camp.  His  health  was  never 
restored  to  its  former  vigor,  but  he  remained  with 
his  regiment  and  took  part  in  several  battles.  He 
was  mustered  out  in  June,  1865.  After  his  return 


I 


510 


COLES   COUNTY. 


home  he  resumed  farming,  and  passed  the  remain- 
der of  his  life  in  this  county,  his  death  occurring 
Feb.  14,  1881.  Margaretta  was  born  in  Ireland, 
and  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  B.  Miller,  who 
resides  in  Clark  County,  111.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller 
have  a  family  of  six  children.  Robert  K.  was  born 
in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  is  now  living  in  Min- 
nesota; John  W.,  also  born  in_But)er  County,  Ohio, 
is  married  and  resides  in  this  county,  and  is  the 
father  of  one  child ;  Allen  J.  was  born  in  Coles 
County,  where  he  now  resides;  he  is  married  and 
has  a  family  of  two  children. 

In  the  autumn  of  1864,  Mr.  Walking  was  married 
to  Mrs.  Martha  Downey,  of  Westfield,  Clark  Co., 
111.  After  a  happy  married  life  of  ten  years,  Mrs. 
Watkins  died  in  the  spring  of  1874.  In  June  of 
Ihe  following  year,  Mr.  Watkins  married  Miss 
Eliza  M.  Carr,  of  Coles  County.  Two  children 
were  born  to  them — Essie  L.  and  Emma;  the 
former  born  May  14,  1876,  and  the  latter  March' 
26,  1878.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watkins  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Watkins  has  acquired  his  property  by  in- 
dustry and  enterprise.  On  coming  to  this  county, 
his  possessions  consisted  of  $300  in  money  and  a 
team.  In  1866  he  purchased  120  acres  of  his 
present  homestead,  a  view  of  which  is  given  else- 
where in  this  volume,  and  as  he  was  prospered  in 
business,  added  to  his  estate.  He  now  owns  240 
acres  of  valuable  land,  all  of  which  is  under  good 
cultivation.  He  is  a  patriotic  citizen  of  his 
adopted  country,  and  in  politics,  is  a  member  of 
the  Republican  party. 


WILLIAM  WILLIAMS,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Coles  County,  is  a  retired  farmer,  resid- 
ing on  section  6  (11,  10),  Hutton  Town- 
ship. He  is  Ihe  son  of  Norris  and  Elizabeth  (Mil- 
ler) Williams,  and  was  born  Feb.  21,  1815,  in 
Breckinridge  County,  Ky.  Norris  Williams  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  passed  his  early  life 
at  the  homestead  there,  and  soon  after  his  marriage 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Miller,  who  was  also  a  native  of 
that  State,  he  removed  with  his  young  wife  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Breck- 


inridge  County,  where  he  purchased  land  and  was 
successfully  engaged  in  farming  for  many  years. 
and  where  his  death  occurred  March  21,  1847. 
Their  family  consisted  of  nine  children:  Delilah, 
born  in  1809,  is  the  wife  of  It.  Harley,  and  resides 
in  Breckinridge  County,  Ky. ;  Mahala  was  the  wife 
of  Enoch  Waltrip,  and  both  died  leaving  a  family 
of  four  children;  Susan  was  married  to  John  Wal- 
trip, and  both  are  also  deceased,  leaving  a  family 
of  three  children;  William,  the  subject  of  this 
•sketch;  Harrison,  deceased,  married  Miss  Lucinda 
Hall,  and  one  child  of  their  family  is  now  living; 
Mealy,  the  widow  of  Hiram  Nugent,  has  a  family 
of  nine  children  and  resides  in  Kentucky;  Annie, 
deceased ;  Finis  married  Delilah  Tucker,  and  both 
died,  leaving  a  family  of  seven  children;  John 
married  Miss  Hannah  Scott,  who  died  leaving  two 
children. 

William  Williams  remained  at  the  homestead  in 
Kentucky  until  the  autumn  of  1836,  when  he  came 
to  Coles  County,  111.  Although  the  country  was 
little  more  than  a  wilderness  at  that  time,  the  suc- 
cessful close  of  the  Black  Hawk  War  was  already 
attracting  many  settlers  from  the  East,  and  there 
were  many  indications  apparent  of  the  future  pros- 
perity of  the  State.  Mr.  Williams  entered  forty 
acres  in  Hutton  Township  and  purchased  thirty- 
nine  more,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  cleared 
and  improved  his  land,  and  has  brought  it  to  a  high 
state  of  cultivation;  it  is  well  tiled,  and  his  resi- 
dence and  farm  buildings  are  excellent  and  well  ap- 
pointed. June  8,  1837,  the  year  following  his  set- 
tlement in  this  county,  Mr.  Williams  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  A.  Waltrip.  Mrs.  Williams  was  the 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  Waltrip,  and 
was  born  Dec.  11,  1822.  After  sharing  the  trials 
and  hardships  of  pioneer  life  with  her  husband  for 
twenty  years,  assisting  him  in  building  up  their 
home  on  the  Western  frontier  by  her  housewifely 
skill  and  good  judgment,  her  death  occurred  Dec. 
26,  1857. 

July  15  of  the  following  year,  Mr.  William  Will- 
iams married  Miss  Cassandra  Baker.    Mrs.  Williams 
i    is  the  daughter  of    Abel  and    Isabelle   (Endsley) 
:    Baker,  and  was   born  Sept.   5,  1837,  in  Coshocton 
County,  Ohio.     Abel  Baker,  a  native  of  the   same 
i   place  as  his  daughter,  was   born   Nov.   20,  1810. 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


511     t  k 


After  his  marriage  he  remained  there  for  several 
years  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  the  autumn  of 
1848,  he  made  the  long  and  toilsome  overland 
journey  to  Illinois  with  his  family,  and  on  his  arri- 
val, entered  forty  acres  of  land  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship, Coles  County,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  north- 
east of  Salisbury.  He  subsequently  purchased  forty 
acres  in  the  same  locality,  and  made  his  home  here 
about  thirty  years.  Desiring  to  retire  from  active 
business,  he  then  sold  his  property  and  purchased 
a  home  with  two  acres  of  land,  in  the  village  of 
Stringtovvn,  Hutton  Township,  and  here  passed  the 
closing  years  of  his  life.  His  wife  died  Feb.  16, 
1879,  and  after  surviving  her  a  few  years  his  death 
occurred  Jan.  12,  1885.  Both  are  buried  in  Giffln 
Cemetery.  Mrs.  Baker  was  a  highly  esteemed  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  their  family 
consisted  of  nine  children  —  Aaron,  Cassandra, 
Basil,  Andrew,  Nancy  J.,  Sarah  E.,  James,  Isabelle 
and  Mary  A.  Aaron  and  James  both  died  in  child- 
hood. 

Mr.  Williams,  having  had  no  children  of  his  own,    | 
adopted  a  boy  named  Thomas  N.  Smith,  whom  he    | 
brought  up  and  provided  with  the   means  to  start 
in  life  for  himself.     Mr.  Smith  married   Miss  Dilly 
Garrison,  and    now    rents    the    homestead  of  Mr. 
Williams  and  carries  on  the  farm,  the  latter  having 
desired  to  retire  from  the  cares  of  active  business. 
Mr.  Williams,  with  his  wife,  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

A  lithographic  view  of  Mr.  Williams'  handsome 
farm  residence  and  out-buildings  is  given  on  an- 
other page. 


-/ILLIAM  A.  PHILHOWER,  general  mer- 
chant of  Mattoon,  dealing  in  groceries, 
tinware  and  notions,  and  located  in  a  com- 
modious store  building  on  South  B  street,  enjoys 
the  patronage  of  the  best  people  of  his  township, 
and  the  respect  and  confidence  of  a  host  of  friends. 
The  first  representatives  of  the  Philhowcr  family 
in  America,  were  Adam,  the  great-great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  and  his  brother,  natives  of  Germany, 
who  ran  away  from  home  in  about  1745,  and  sailed 
for  the  United  States.  Adam  settled  in  New 
Jersey,  where  he  married,  and  subsequently  with 


his  son  John,  then  a  youth  of  eighteen,  served  seven 
years  in. the  Revolutionary  War  under  the  imme- 
diate command  of  Gen.  Washington.  During  the 
entire  period  of  his  service  he  never  received  the 
slightest  wound.  After  the  independence  of  the 
Colonies  was  established  Adam  Philhower  returned 
to  New  Jersey,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  son  Jacob  emigrated  to  Clermont  Count}-, 
Ohio,  in  1815,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  eight 
children.  He  engaged  in  farming  and  died  there. 
Among  his  sons  was  William,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  who  made  the  journey  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents,  and  passed  his  early  life  on  his  father's 
farm,  assisting  in  the  labors  around  the  homestead, 
and  being  fairly  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  was  born  April  16,  1811,  and  in  1830  was  mar- 
ried in  Ohio,  where  he  continued  to  reside,  owning 
100  acres  of  land  which  he  industriously  cultivated, 
and  also  rented  additional  land  upon  which  to 
operate.  In  1854,  he  disposed  of  his  possessions  in 
the  Buckeye  State,  and  removing  with  his  family 
to  Richmond  County,  111.,  purchased  475  acres  of 
land,  and  continued  there  until  the  spring  of  1856, 
when  he  returned  to  Ohio  on  a  visit  and  died  at  the 
old  homestead  among  the  friends  of  his  youth.  His 
widow  survived  him  a  number  of  years,  her  death 
occurring  April  18,  1882. 

Of  the  fourteen  children  included  in  the  grand- 
father's household,  ten  lived  to  mature  years,  and 
eight  are  now  living,  recorded  as  follows:  Paulina 
is  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Finn,  of  Richmond  County,  111. ; 
Eliza,  Mrs.  Mickey,  lives  in  Gibson  County,  Ind., 
Sarah  J.,  Mrs.  Baldwin,  is  a  resident  of  Greene 
County,  Mo. ;  A.  W.  is  one  of  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  Mattoon ;  Mary  A.,  Mrs.  Turney,  of 
Clinton  County,  Ohio;  Catherine,  Mrs.  Clark,  of 
Gibson  County,  Ind.;  Jacob  W.,  residing  in  Shelby 
County,  this  State,  and  Dewey  M.  of  Pekin,  111. 

Among  the  sons  was  Ira  B.,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  who  spent  his  childhood  and  youth  in  his 
native  State,  and  after  reaching  manhood  married 
Miss  Adelina  Smith,  a  native  of  Clermont  County, 
Ohio,  who  became  the  mother  of  our  subject.  At 
an  early  day  he  came  to  Gallatin  Count}',  this  State, 
and  engaged  in  business  as  a  dry -goods  merchant. 
He  remained  one  year,  and  then  removed  to 
Richland  County,  continuing  the  same  business 


1 


512 


COLES   COUNTY. 


until  1860,  when  he  removed  to  Marion,  and  be- 
came Station  Agent  of  the  railroad  four  years. 
Afterward  he  returned  to  Richland  County,  and 
for  four  years  engaged  in  operating  a  flouring-inill. 
Then  selling  out  he  engaged  once  more  in  merchan- 
dising, locating  in  the  town  of  Noble,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  in  1885.  The  three  chil- 
dren of  the  parental  household  were  William  A.  of 
our  sketch ;  Mary  V.,  Mrs.  C.  Palmer,  and  Maggie, 
at  home.  Ira  B.  Philhower  was  a  man  of  much 
force  of  character,  and  politically,  a  stanch  Repub- 
lican. He  held  the  office  of  School  Director,  was  a 
member  of  the  Village  Board,  and  for  many  years 
connected  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born  in  Rich- 
land  County,  111.,  Nov.  5,  1857.  As  soon  as  old 
enough  he  was  placed  in  school,  and  when  not  oc- 
cupied with  his  studies,  spent  his  time  mostly  in 
his  father's  store,  where  he  gained  a  good  insight 
into  the  general  methods  of  transacting  business. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  after 
passing  his  twenty- fifth  year,  and  then  coming  to 
Mattoon  established  his  present  business,  in  which 
he  has  since  engaged  with  excellent  results.  He  has 
been  joined  by  his  mother  and  sister,  and  the  three 
live  together  in  a  snug  home.  Like  his  father  be- 
fore him  he  uniformly  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  current  events, 
being  especially  interested  in  the  movements  of  the. 
Knights  of  Labor,  with  which  he  became  identified 
soon  after  their  organization. 


\ 


S  J.  BULL  is  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Ashrnore  Township,  located  on  section  12, 
and  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  county. 
He  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Simpson)  Bull, 
and  was  born  March  25,  1837,  in  Edgar  County, 
111.  His  family  is  of  English  descent,  his  ancestors 
having  been  among  the  early  settlers  of  Virginia. 
They  located  in  the  northeast  part  of  Virginia,  and 
the  stream  known  as  Bull  Run  derived  its  name 
from  their  family.  The  stream  forms  the  boundary 
between  Fairfax  and  Prince  William  Counties,  un- 
til it  enters  the  Occoquan  River  fourteen  miles  from 
its  mouth.  It  has  been  made  memorable  in  history 


by  the  two  disastrous  battles  which  were  fought 
there  during  the  Civil  War,  the  first  on  July  21, 
1861,  and  the  last  Aug.  -29  and  30,  1862. 

This  branch  of  the  family  had  emigrated  to  Ohio 
in  the  early  days,  where  Henry  Bull  was  born  in 
1809.  He  is  now  living  in  this  State.  His  wife 
was  born  in  1807,  and  her  death  occurred  in  No- 
vember, 1855.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  but  her  husband  is  a  Presbyterian. 
The  names  of  their  children  are  as  follows :  Thomas 
J.,  William  H.,  James  M.,  Franklin  R.  and  Mary  E. 
Thomas  J.  and  James  are  the  only  members  of  the 
family  now  living.  Mr.  Bull  came  to  V,his  county 
Jan.  16,  1866,  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War. 
in  which  he  had  an  honorable  career.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  C,  5th 
Iowa  Vol.  Cav.,  and  served  four  years.  He  was 
first  promoted  Seventh  Corporal,  and  then  First 
Duty  Sergeant,  and  took  part  in  the  sieges  of 
Atlanta  and  Nashville,  passing  through  the  entire 
war  unscathed  by  either  wounds  or  disease. 

Thomas  J.  Bull  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Isabella  Olmsted,  Jan.  16,  1866.  She  was  born  in 
1844,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  T.  and  Mary 
(Sutherland)  Olmsted,  natives  of  Virginia,  and 
both  now  deceased.  Her  father  was  a  man  of  great 
wealth,  and  before  his  death  made  a  generous  set- 
tlement upon  each  of  his  children.  Mr.  Olmsted 
had  been  twice  married.  The  names  of  the  chil- 
dren by  his  first  marriage  are  as  follows:  Emily, 
Mrs.  Brown,  died  in  October,  1886;  Harvey  married 
Miss  Graham,  and  Elizabeth  married  Dr.  Steele. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  children  by  the 
second  marriage :  Jane,  deceased,  formerly  the  wife 
of  William  Fisher;  Melissa,  Mrs.  Thomas  Stoddard ; 
Charles  married  Miss  Margaret  Tuttle;  Bird  mar- 
ried Caudasy  Wilson ;  George  married  Mary  Fleet- 
wood  ;  Ann  married  a  Mr.  Shoot ;  John  died  at  the 
age  of  seventeen;  William,  deceased;  and  Isabella. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Bull  have  a  family  of  five 
children — Minnie  R.,  Nellie  M.,  Henry  D.,  Molly  L. 
and  Blanche  I. 

Mr.  Bull  has  a  fine  estate  comprising  240  acres  of 
valuable  land,  on  which  in  1875  he  erected  one  of 
the  most  elegant  and  substantial  brick  residences  in 
the  township,  a  view  of  which  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  He  has  inherited  the  Eii- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


513 


glish  love  for  fine  blooded  stock  and  has  built  a 
commodious  barn,  34  x  60  feet,  with  eighteen-feet 
posts,  with  all  the  necessary  appointments,  espec- 
ially for  the  accomodation  of  his  horses  and  cattle. 
He  owns  a  stallion  of  Clydesdale  blood,  and  his 
breeds  of  cattle  and  sheep  are  among  the  finest  in 
the  county. 

Thomas  Bull's  mother  was  a  widow  when  she 
married  Henry  Bull.  Her  first  husband  was  Mr. 
Jarvis,  by  whom  she  had  five  children,  whose  record 
is  as  follows:  G.  M.  Jarvis  is  a  resident  of  Chicago, 
where  he  has  a  wholesale  store  for  the  sale  of  Califor- 
nia wines,  at  No.  39  North  State  street;  John  W. 
is  a  resident  of  California,  where  he  has  a  large 
vineyard,  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  3'ears  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  raising  grapes  for  the  market, 
and  in  the  manufacture  of  wines;  in  the  year  1886 
he  sold  forty  tons  of  grapes,  and  manufactuerd 
41,000  gallons  of  wine,  all  of  which  was  produced 
from  a  vineyard  of  thirty  acres;  Margaret,  now 
Mrs.  Moses,  is  also  a  resident  of  California,  and 
there  were  two  children  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Bull  is  a  man  whose  business  and  social 
qualifications  have  gained  for  him  a  large  circle  of 
friends.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Old-School  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  for  the  last  seven  years  has  been 
one  of  its  Elders.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Post,  at  Charleston,  and  ardently  sustains  the  Re- 
publican party  in  politics. 


AVID  SANDERS,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Hutton  Township,  is  an  extensive  farmer 
and  stock-dealer,  residing  on  section  19 
(11,  10).  He  is  the  son  of  David  and 
Susana  (Wakefield)  Sanders,  and  was  born  Jan.  15, 
1836,  in  Seneca  County,  N.  Y.  His  grandfather, 
Henry  Sanders,  was  a  native  of  Holland,  and  left 
his  native  country  when  a  boy  to  seek  his  home 
and  fortune  in  the  Western  World.  He  made  the 
voyage  across  the  Atlantic  in  a  sailing-vessel,  and 
after  a  long  and  tempestuous  voyage  landed  in 
New  York.  After  passing  through  many  advent- 
ures and  vicissitudes,  'he  made  his  permanent  home 
in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  where  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Farnsvvorth  took  place.  With  the  thrift  and 


energy  characteristic  of  his  nationality,  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  carried  on  a  successful  business. 
With  his  wife  he  reared  a  large  family  of  children, 
and  lived  to  a  good  old  age. 

David  Sanders,  Sr.,  was  born  Aug.  1,  1810,  in 
Oneida  County,  N.  Y.  He  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education  in  his  boyhood,  and  remained 
on  the  homestead  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 
riage. He  then  began  business  for  himself,  and 
was  for  a  number  of  years  employed  in  public 
works.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Steuben 
County,  N'.  Y.,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  there 
for  about  twelve  3'ears.  He  then  determined  to 
emigrate  West,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1848  re- 
moved to  Portage  County^  Wis.,  and  entered  160 
acres  of  wild  land  there.  He  cleared  and  improved 
his  farm  and  built  a  comfortable  house,  which  in- 
creased the  value  of  his  property,  and  when  a  good 
opportunity  offered  sold  out  and  again  purchased, 
and  at  one  time  owned  1,100  acres  of  land  in  that 
count3'.  His  prosperity  in  business,  however,  was 
clouded  by  the  death  of  his  wife  who  did  not  sur- 
vive their  removal  to  Wisconsin  manj'  years,  dy- 
ing in  August,  1851. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  eleven  children: 
Washington,  born  Sept.  13,  1830,  married  Miss 
Mary  A.  St.  Clair,  who  died  leaving  eight  chil- 
dren; he  subsequently  married  again,  and  is  now 
living  in  Nebraska;  Mary  W.,  born  June  28,  1833, 
became  the  wife  of  Oliver  Richmond,  and  her  hus- 
band dying,  she  afterward  became  the  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Post,  and  resides  in  Wisconsin;  Elizabeth,  born 
Sept.  27,  1834,  was  the  wife  of  R.  M.  Welsh,  now 
deceased;  he  left  a  family  of  five  children.  David, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  Susana,  born  Nov.  1 4, 
1837,  is  the  wife  of  Harrison  Miller,  and  resides  in 
Meeker  County,  Minn.;  W.  M.,  born  Aug.  12, 
1839,  married  Miss  Mary  Huttoii,  who  died  leav- 
ing a  family  of  five  children;  for  his  second  wife 
he  married  Milly  Johnson,  and  resides  in  Kansas. 
Jackson,  born  June  28,  1841,  married  Miss  Ruby 
Johnson,  and  both  are  deceased;  Stephen,  born 
March  25,  1843,  married  Miss  Sarah  Cutwright, 
and  resides  in  Southern  Kansas;  Cbauncy,  born 
July  6,  1845,  is  married,  and  resides  in  Minnesota; 
Annie,  born  Aug.  6,  1847,  is  the  wife  of  Stewart 
Warren,  also  a  resident  of  Minnesota,  and  Emma, 


:l 


.  ,     514 


COLES   COUNTY. 


deceased,  born  July  22,  1849;  her  death  occurred 
soon  after  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Curtis.  In  July, 
1856,  Mr.  Sanders  married  Miss  Marinda  Hart. 
Mrs.  Sanders  was  horn  Sept.  19,  1806,  in  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  died  Feb.  20,  1885,  having  sur- 
vived her  husband  three  years;  Mr.  Sanders  died 
March  1 6,  1 882.  With  his  wife,  he  was  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  was  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
for  forty  years. 

David  Sanders  lived  with  his  parents  until  the 
death  of  his  mother,  which  occurred  when  he  was 
about  sixteen  years  of  age.  Prior  to  this  he  had 
only  opportunity  for  the  acquisition  of  a  very  lim- 
ited education,  and  he  then  passed  a  few  years  at 
the  home  of  his  married  sister,  and  while  there  was 
engaged  in  assisting  in  the  farm  labor.  With  his 
brother-in-law,  R.  M.  Welsh,  he  subsequently  went 
to  the  pineries,  where  he  was  employed  one  year 
as  a  wage-worker  by  the  month,  and  afterward 
worked  two  years  at  hauling  and  shipping  lumber 
on  the  river.  April  18,  1859,  he  started  down  the 
river  in  charge  of  a  raft,  and  while  tying  up  at 
Stevens'  Point  was  caught  in  the  cable,  receiving 
severe  injuries,  which  resulted  in  laying  him  up  for 
abouta  month.  After  his  recovery  from  thisaccident 
he  returned  to  his  post,  and  took  charge  of  another 
fleet,  and  on  this  occasion  landed  safely  with  his 
lumber  at  Galena.  Having  had  sufficient  experi- 
ence in  that  line  of  business  he  then  left  the  river, 
came  to  Coles  County,  111.,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Mutton  Township.  Here  he  met  his  future 
wife,  Miss  Sarah  Lemtng,  and  their  marriage  took 
place  Aug.  12,  1860.  Mrs.  Sanders  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Nicholas  and  Judith  (McGahan)  Leming, 
and  was  born  Sept.  14,  1841,  on  the  homestead 
where  she  now  lives.  Nicholas  Leming  was  born 
April  25,  1791,  in  New  Jersey,  near  Long  Branch, 
and  his  wife,  June  25,  1806,  in  Pennsylvania,  near 
Philadelphia.  They  were  married  Dec.  24,  1835, 
and  had  a  family  of  three  children :  Elizabeth  J., 
born  Dec.  11,  1839;  Sarah,  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Sanders  had  the  manage- 
ment of  his  father-in-law's  farm  for  about  fifteen 
years.  In  the  meantime  he  was  prospered  in  busi- 
ness, and  had  purchased  a  large  tract  of  laud  con- 


taining  115  acres,  in  Cumberland  County.  He  then 
moved  to  this  place,  and  after  spending  three  years 
there  returned  to  his  father-in-law's  estate,  which 
in  1879  was  transferred  to  him  by  deed.  A  few 
years  after  this  his  father-in-law  died,  Feb.  3,  1883, 
at  the  homestead,  having  survived  his  wife  many 
years.  Her  death  occurred  April  4,  1862. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanders  had  two  sons — Nicholas 
C.,  born  Aug.  23,  1861,  and  George  C.,  Oct.  29, 
1864.  Nicholas  was  married,  Jan.  10,  1886,  to 
Miss  Flora  Lawyer;  he  is  associated  with  his  father 
in  business,  and  resides  at  the  homestead,  where  a 
beautiful  grandchild  is  now  the  light  of  the  house 
and  general  manager  of  the  family.  George  was 
married,  March  8,  1883,  to  Miss  Lucretia  Smith, 
and  resides  in  Dickinson  County,  Kan. 

Mr.  Sanders'  estate  is  all  well  improved,  and  half 
of  it  is  supplied  with  tiling.  In  1881  he  erected  a 
substantial  brick  residence,  and  in  1886  a  commodi- 
ous and  well-appointed  barn.  He  deals  quite  ex- 
tensively in  cattle,  buying,  feeding  and  selling 
them  mostly  at  home.  He  is  interested  in  educa- 
tional affairs,  and  has  served  as  School  Director  for 
a  number  of  years.  With  his  wife  Mr.  Sanders  is 
a  member  of  the  Separate  Baptist  Church.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  belongs  to 
Hutton  Lodge  No.  698,  of  Diona.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat.  A  lithographic  view  of  Mr.  San- 
ders' handsome  residence  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  ALBUM. 


J.  BRUNER,  well  known  as  a  prominent 
builder  and  contractor  of  Mattoon,  has  re- 
Ji\  tired  from  active  business  and  resides  at 
his  home  on  Edgar  street,  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  ease  and  prosperity  won  by  years  of 
toil  and  close  application  to  business.  He  was  born 
May  9,  1830,  in  Breckinridge  County,  Ky.,  and  is 
the  son  of  Abraham  and  Nancy  (Penick)  Brunei-, 
the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  the  latter  of 
Virginia.  His  grandfather,  John  Brunei1,  was  born 
in  Germany,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  a  young  man.  He  was  a  farmer  and  distiller 
in  Kentucky,  and  became  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Indiana,  where  he  was  successfully  engaged  in 


T 


COLES   COUNTY. 


515 


farming.  His  wife  was  likewise  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, whose  family  had  emigrated  to  this  country 
at  an  early  day.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  now  deceased,  with  one  ex- 
ception, Samuel  Brunei1,  a  resident  of  Indiana. 

Abraham  Bruner  passed  his  life  in  his  native 
State,  of  which  he  was  a  substantial  and  worthy 
citizen.  He  was  ever  deeply  interested  in  promot- 
ing the  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  the  commun- 
ity where  he  resided.  With  his  wife,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church,  in  which  both  were 
earnest  workers.  Fie  was  a  strong  advocate  of  the 
temperance  cause,  and  took  an  active  part  in  all 
measures  tending  to  increase  the  educational  ad- 
vantages in  his  county.  In  politics  he  was  a  Jack- 
sonian  Democrat.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bruner  had  a 
family  of  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing— Jefferson,  Henry,  Andrew,  Martha,  Elizabeth, 
Lucinda,  William  and  Abraham. 

A.  J.  Bruner  passed  his  childhood  and  youth  on 
his  father's  farm  in  Kentucky,  and  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Margaret  E.  Obannon  took  place  there  in 
1851.  Mrs.  Bruner  is  the  daughter  of  Rev.  George 
and  Jane  (Lewis)  Qbannon,  the  former  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  Rev.  George 
Obannon  came  to  Mattoon  in  1858,  where  he  re- 
ceived the  pastorate  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  He  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  was 
born  in  Woodford  County,  Ky.,  Oct.  1,  1800.  His 
wife  was  born  Oct.  25,  1804,  in  Virginia,  and  is  of 
English  parentage.  Mr.  Obannon  died  July  10, 
1887,  and  his  widow  still  makes  her  home  in  Mat- 
toon.  The  following  are  the  names  of  their  chil- 
dren now  living — Margaret,  Marion,  William,  Os- 
car, Daniel  and  Taylor. 

Shortly  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Bruner  leased  a 
hotel  in  Caster.  Breckinridge  Co.,  Ky..  of  which  he 
became  the  proprietor,  and  after  a  trial  of  four 
months  purchased  it,  with  the  design  of  carrying  on 
that  business.  He  changed  his  plans,  however,  at 
the  close  of  the  year,  sold  out  his  property,  and 
moved  to  Louisville.  He  commenced  mercantile 
business  there,  but  after  a  few  months  sold  out 
again  and  returned  to  his  former  home.  He  then 
opened  a  dry-goods  house,  which  he  carried  on 
about  two  years,  and  then  sold  out  his  stock  and  in- 
vested in  a  wharf-boat..  Within 'a  few  months  his 


boat  was  lost  in  a  severe  storm,  which  disaster  ter- 
minated that  enterprise.  In  1859  he  went  to  Louis- 
ville, and  thence  in  the  same  year,  came  to  Illinois, 
where  he  settled  in  Mattoon  and  engaged  in  build- 
ing and  contracting  in  masonry.  This  enterprise 
proved  successful.  Many  of  the  business  blocks 
and  brick  residences  in  the  city  have  been  erected 
under  his  supervision.  His  business  constantly  in- 
creased, extending  into  Cumberland  and  Moultrie 
Counties.  He  kept  a  number  of  skilled  hands  in  his 
employ  and  carried  on  a  profitable  business  until 
1880.  when  he  retired.  He  purchased  the  property 
where  he  now  resides  in  1877,  and  is  also  the  owner 
of  other  city  property,  having  a  house  on  Essex 
street,  and  also  one  on  Marshall. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bruner  have  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren now  living — George  H.,  Millard  F.  and  Mag- 
gie. The  two  sons  have  followed  their  father's  line 
of  business  and  are  both  successful  contractors  and 
builders.  George  H.  married  Miss  Mattie  E. 
Stevens,  and  they  have  one  child,  Mabel ;  Millard 
F.  married  Miss  Ada  Ross,  and  they  also  have  one 
child,  Esther;  Maggie  resides  at  home,  the  com- 
panion of  her  parents.  Mr.  Bruner,  with  his  wife, 
is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
in  politics  is  a  Republican. 


HARLES  E.  LEITCH,  a  substantial  farmer 
residing  on  section  17,  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  honorably  represents  one  of  the 
pioneer  families  of  this  county.  He  is  the  son  of 
Robert  and  Jane  (Erwin)  Leitch,  and  was  born 
April  16,  1836,  in  Chillicothe,  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  his 
parents  removing  to  Illinois  and  settling  in  Pleas- 
ant Grove  Township,  in  the  autumn  of  that  year. 

Charles  Leitch  passed  his  early,  life  on  the  home- 
stead, where  he  acquired  much  practical  knowledge 
in  agriculture,  and  attended  the  subscription  school 
of  the  pioneer  days  during  the  winter.  But  the 
educational  advantages  of  the  county  soon  began 
to  improve,  and  during  the  last  year  of  his  school 
days  he  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  the  public  school. 

March  18,  1858,  Mr.  Leitch  was  married  to  Miss 
Mahala  Baker.  Mrs.  Leitch  was  the  daughter  of 


i 


>  ,    516 


COLES  COUNTY. 


Jacob  and  Mary  (Kdmond)  Baker,  and  was  born  in 
Highland  County,  Va.,  Dec.  19,  1837.  Her  family 
^caine  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Coles  County  in 
1852.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Leitch  settled  on  a 
rented  farm  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Pleasant 
Grove  Township  on  the  Embarrae  River,  and  the 
following  year  purchased  the  farm  and  resided 
there  until  1886.  when  he  changed  his  locality,  and 
settled  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives.  His  estate 
contains  247  acres  of  valuable,  well-improved  land, 
and  is  considered  one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 
He  has  a  fine  brick  residence,  and  his  farm  buildings 
are  excellent  and  well  appointed.  He  is  chiefly  en- 
gaged in  stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  French 
draft  horses,  Short-horn  cattle,  and  Berkshire  hogs- 

His  pleasant  home  has  recently  been  darkened  by 
the  shadow  of  death.  January  11,  1887,  the  be- 
loved wife  and  mother,  who  was  apparently  in  good 
health,  died  suddenly  while  standing  in  the  door- 
way of  her  house.  The  sudden  death  of  Mrs. 
Leitch  was  a  crushing  blow  to  her  family,  but  she 
was  a  sincere  Christian,  and  was  doubtless  prepared 
to  go,  when  the  Master  summoned  her  without 
warning  to  her  home  beyond  the  river.  She  left 
a  family  of  seven  children:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Hackett;  Grant,  John,  Edwin,  Jacob, Samuel 
and  Allen.  Mrs.  Leitch  is  buried  in  Mount  Tabor 
Cemetery,  and  is  deeply  mourned  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends. 

Mr.  Lietch  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  since  1860,  and  is  active  in  promoting  the 
interests  of  that  religions  body.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  has  served  in  several  local  offices, 
having  been  School  Director  seventeen  years,  and 
Commissioner  of  Highways  nine  years.  He  pos- 
sesses excellent  business  qualifications  and  has  given 
general  satisfaction  to  the  people  in  the  discharge 
of  his  public  duties. 


ENLEY  ANDERSON  occupies  a  snug  farm 
of  eighty  acres  on  section  11,  in  Charleston 
Township,  of  which  he  has  been  in  posses- 
sion since  the  spring  of  1872.  He  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  good  education,  having  attended  Eu- 
reka College,  and  one  who  has  seen  considerable  of 


the  world,  having,  when  a  younger  man,  traveled 
over  a  large  part  of  the  territory  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. He  was  variously  occupied  in  his  youth, 
but  finally  decided  that  there  was  nothing  better 
or  healthier  than  life  in  the  rural  regions,  and 
which  he  has  thoroughly  enjoyed  since  becoming 
the  possessor  of  his  present  farm.  To  this  he  has 
given  his  careful  attention,  and  with  his  family  is 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  on  the 
farm  of  his  father  near  Frankfort,  Oct.  20,  1845, 
and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Stutsman) 
Anderson,  natives  of  North  Carolina  and  Indiana 
respectively.  Jacob  Anderson  removed  with  his 
parents  when  a  boy  to  Indiana,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  He  after- 
ward removed  to  a  point  near  Frankfort,  where  he 
became  the  owner  of  a  flouring-tnill,  which  he  op- 
erated until  the  spring  of  184SI.  He  then  came  to 
Central  Illinois  and  purchased  about  3,000  acres  of 
land  in  Charleston  and  Seven  Hickory  Townships, 
where  he  put  up  a  substantial  brick  house,  and  in- 
stituted many  other  admirable  improvements. 
Here  the  mother  died  in  April,  1860. 

Jacob  Anderson  survived  his  wife  twelve  years, 
dying  in  April,  1872,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years.  Of  their  eight  children,  but  four  are  now 
living,  namely,  Sarah,  Mrs.  Van  Sickle;  Bruce, 
Henley,  a-nd  Samantha,  Mrs.  Calvert.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  a  man  of  many  excellent  quali- 
ties, honest  and  upright  in  his  dealings,  decided  in 
his  views,  and  an  uncompromising  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  also  belonged  to  the  I.  O. 
O.  F. 

Henley  Anderson  remained  a  member  of  his 
father's  household  until  the  death  of  the  latter.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  been  mostly  engaged  in  ac- 
quiring a  good  education,  and  after  leaving  Eureka 
College,  started  in  January,  1804,  for  the  Pacific 
Slope.  He  employed  that  year  in  traveling,  and 
then  returning  to  this  county,  served  three  years  at 
the  jeweler's  trade  at  Charleston,  where  he  contin- 
ued until  about  1867.  Then  going  to  Lexington, 
Ky.,  he  took  a  course  of  stud}7  in  the  Agricultural 
and  Mechanical  College,  after  which  he  followed 
farming  until  1872.  Two  3'ears  later  he  estab- 
lished a  jewelry  store  at  Charleston,  which  he  con- 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 
^  OF  KIOTO'S 


COLES   COUNT V. 


519 


ducted  until  1878,  then  determined  to  abandon  all 
trades  and  occupations,  for  the  independent  life  of 
a  farmer.  His  labors  in  this  direction  have  been 
amply  rewarded,  and  he  is  ranked  among  the  well- 
to-do  and  substantial  agriculturists  of  Coles 
County. 

The  lady  who  has  been  the  sharer  of  the  home 
and  fortunes  of  our  subject  since  the  spring  of 
1875,  was  formerly  Miss  Emma,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Susan  Ricketts,  of  Charleston.  She  was 
born  in  1856,  and  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  have  no 
children. 


B.  BENEF1EL,  one  of  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  Mattoon,  is  proprietor  of  one  of  the 
best  meat-markets  in  the  city,  and  also  a 
dealer  in  coal  and  grain.  He  is  the  son  of 
Dr.  John  S.  and  Eliza  (Kackley)  Beneflel,  and  was 
born  April  22,  1847,  in  Knox  County,  Ind.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  his  mother  of 
Kentucky.  In  about  1843  Dr.  Beneflel  graduated 
from  a  Cleveland  medical  college,  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Davis  County.  After 
remaining  there  about  five  years,  he  removed  to 
Green  County,  Ind.,  where  he  also  remained  five 
years,  and  then  changed  his  location  to  Sullivan 
County,  Ind.,  and  after  remaining  there  for  five 
years,  again  decided  to  change  his  location,  remov- 
ing with  his  family  to  Mattoon,  111.  After  remain- 
ing there  six  years,  he  removed  in  1867  to  Hope 
County,  Mo.,  where  he  has  since  made  his  perma- 
nent residence,  and  is  actively  engaged  in  the  du- 
ties of  a  large  practice.  His  family  consisted  of 
five  children,  all  of  whom,  with  one  exception,  are 
now  living.  Their  record  is  as  follows:  J.  B., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Lucius  K..  a  stock-dealer 
residing  in  Kansas;  Mattie,  the  wife  of  J.  S.  Baker, 
who  is  the  oldest  conductor  on  the  E.  &  T.  H.  R.  R. ; 
Jennie  J.,  now  Mrs.  William  Bradbury,  a  resident 
of  Dodge  City,  Kan. 

J.  B.  Benefiel  received  a  practical  education  in 
his  boyhood,  and  when  about  twenty  years  of  age 
obtained  employment  in  the  Union  Express  Com- 
pany at  Mattoon.  After  remaining  with  them  one 
year,  he  obtained  a  position  with  the  American 


Express  Company  at  Terre  Haute,  where  he  passed 
another  year,  and  then  changing  his  employment, 
became  foreman  of  a  large  farm  in  Coles  County. 
At  the  expiration  of  twelve  mouths,  he  again  ob- 
tained employment  with  the  American  Express 
Company  at  Mattoon,  where  he  also  staid  one 
year,  and  then  acted  as  messenger  fourteen  months 
for  the  C  .&  I.  S.  R.  R.  His  next  business  enterprise 
was  the  manufacture  of*  soap,  in  which  he  was  en 
gaged  three  years,  and  after  relinquishing  this  busi- 
ness was  occupied  as  a  butcher  for  six  years.  He 
then  engaged  in  stock-dealing  until  1884,  and  has 
since  added  coal  and  gram  to  the  meat-market  of 
which  he  is  now  the  proprietor.  Notwithstanding 
these  business  vicissitudes,  he  has  acquired  con- 
siderable property  ;  besides  a  tine  farm,  containing 
100  acres  of  land,  located  south  of  the  city,  he  also 
owns  some  property  in  the  town,  and  has  been  to 
some  extent  engaged  in  real-estate  business.  In 
1879  he  was  Assessor,  and  subsequently  was  elected 
Mayor  of  the  city  on  the  Prohibition  ticket.  He 
had  previously  served  as  Deputy  Collector  in  1870, 
•and  in  1884  was  again  elected  Assessor. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Benefiel  and  Miss  Ellen 
.Aldridge,  occurred  in  1874.  Mrs.  B.  is  a  native  of 
Arkansas,  and  the  daughter  of  Freeland  Aldridge, 
of  that  State.  Our  subject  and  wife  have  two  chil- 
dren living  —  Winnie  E.  and  Eva  M.  Mrs.  Benefiel 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  although  her  husband  is  not  connected  with 
the  church,  he  affords  material  assistance  in  pro- 
moting its  interests.  Mr.  Benefiel  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  the  pictorial  department  of  this  work  the  pub- 
lishers present  the  portrait*  of  leading  and  repre- 
sentative men,  and  among  them  may  be  found  that 
of  Mr.  Benefiel. 


?ILLIAM  STITES,  a  retired  farmer,  is  a 
prominent  resident  of  Morgan  Township. 
He  was  born  on  Christmas  Day,  1822,  in 
Columbia  Township,  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  F.  and  Fannie  (Muchmore)  Stites. 
His  grandfather,  Benjamin  Stites,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, was  one  of  a  party  of  sixteen,  of  which  his 


I 


520 


COLES   COUNTY. 


father  was  the  leader,  who  first  landed  at  Colum- 
bia, Ohio,  and  he  assisted  in  building  the  first 
block-house  in  that  place.  He  was  sixteen  years 
of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  father  on  that  ex- 
pedition. The  family  settled  in  Ohio,  and  his 
father  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  that  State. 
Benjamin  Stites  was  twice  married,  and  a  family  of 
several  children  was  born  to  him  by  each  mar- 
riage. His  death  occurred  near  Lebanon,  Ohio. 

John  Stites  reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  the  following  is  the  record :  William,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Anna  was  the  wife  of  David 
Gerard,  a  resident  of  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and 
both  are  deceased ;  Sarah,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
William  Muchmore,  a  resident  of  Ohio;  James,  a 
resident  of  Kansas,  was  twice  married ;  David  died 
on  Christmas,  1885,  in  ColesjCounty,  III.;  his  death 
occurred  very  suddenly;  he  was  found  lifeless  sit- 
ting in  his  easy  chair,  as  if  he  had  fallen  asleep.  He 
left  a  wife  and  four  children.  John  M.  is  married 
and  resides  in  Missouri;  he  has  a  family  of  five 
children  living.  Hiram,  deceased,  was  a  resident 
of  Butler  County,  Ohio,  and  left  a  family  of  three 
children;  Emily,  the  wife  of  J.  Gerard,  resides  in 
Morgan  Township,  and  has  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren living;  Phoebe  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
and  Franklin.  John  Stites  was  a  successful  farmer 
in  Ohio,  where  his  life  was  passed.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  Butler  County,  of  that  State. 

William  Stites  was  married,  in  March,  1845,  to 
Miss  Edith  Stites.  Mrs.  Stites  was  the  daughter  of 
Joshua  and  Mary  (Townsend)  Stites.  The  families 
bear  the  same  name,  but  are  not  related.  Her  par- 
ents were  from  Cape  May  County,  N.  J..  and  came 
to  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  making  their  permanent 
home  there.  After  his  marriage,  which  took  place 
in  Columbia  Township,  Butler  County,  Mr.  Stites 
remained  in  Ohio  until  1872.  He  then  came  to 
Coles  County,  and  purchased  a  farm,  which  he  cul- 
tivated and  improved.  He  has  since  made  his 
home  here,  and  is  retired  from  active  business.  He 
passes  his  time,  however,  in  supervising  his  general 
business  affairs,  collecting  rents,  etc.  He  has  only 
two  children — Nathaniel  S.  and  Thomas  J.  His 
wife  died  Aug.  29,  1884,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-three,  and  is  buried  in  Greasy  Point 
Cemetery.  She  had  been  for  many  years  a  mem- 


ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  her  daily 
life  evinced  the  sincerity  of  her  Christian  faith. 
Her  death  was  deeply  mourned  by  her  family  and 
a  large  circle  of  friends.  Mr.  Stites  has  been  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  for 
more  than  thirty  years.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. 


R.  V.  R.  BRIDGES,  physician  and  surgeon 
at  Mattoon,  was  born  in  Rockingham 
County,  Va.,  Jan.  4,  1832.  His  parents, 
Thomas  and  Nancy  (Wiltshire)  Bridges, 
were  natives  of  the  same  county  and  the  father  a 
miller  by  trade,  which  occupation  he  followed 
through  life.  He  left  the  Old  Dominion  in  1836, 
and  settled  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  where  he  lived 
five  \rears,  then  migrated  farther  westward  to  Jas- 
per County,  III.  From  there,  in  1859,  he  came  to 
Mattoon,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
his  death  occurring  in  1872.  During  the  war  he 
served  as  Overseer  of  the  Poor  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Education  for  several  years.  Upon 
first  becoming  a  voter  he  had  identified  himself  with 
the  Democratic  party,  but  in  1856  joined  the  Re- 
publicans, with  whom  he  affiliated  until  his  death. 
Both  parents  were  worthy  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Their  family  included  four  children,  three 
now  living,  namely,  our  subject,  Mary  and  Roe. 

The  younger  days  of  Dr.  Bridges  were  spent 
mostly  in  school  near  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  after 
coming  to  this  State  he  continued  his  studies  until 
seventeen  years  old,  then  commenced  teaching  in 
Jasper  Count}'.  Afterward  he  worked  for  a  time 
at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  also  was  clerk  in  a  store. 
In  1851  he  began  in  earnest  the  study  of  medicine, 
at  Lawrenceville,  and  officiated  as  drug  clerk  in 
order  to  pay  his  expenses,  having  his  clothes 
laundered  at  home  forty  miles  away.  After  com- 
pleting his  studies  he  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Hutton  Township,  being  associated  with 
Dr.  Neal,  and  six  years  later  came  to  Mattoon, 
which  has  since  remained  his  abiding-place.  Dur- 
ing the  late  war  he  was  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the 
62d  Illinois,  and  was  subsequently  promoted  Sur- 
geon of  the  126th,  remaining  with  this  regiment 


tjj- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


521 


until  it  was  mustered  out  in  August,  1865,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Mattoon,  and  since  then  has 
practiced  uninterruptedly,  with  excellent  results. 

Dr.  Bridges  was  first  married  to  Miss  Mary  B. 
Boyd,  in  1856.  They  became  the  parents  of  four 
children,  two  of  whom  filled  -early  graves,  and  the 
mother  passed  to  her  long  home  on  the  15th  of 
February,  1881.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject, 
to  whom  he  was  married  Oct.  19,  1883,  was  for- 
merly Miss  Jannie  Cushman,  of  Mattoon.  They 
have  one  child — Marion  C.  The  Doctor  has  ac- 
cumulated a  comfortable  property,  including  100 
acres  of  good  land  in  Fafayette  Township.  He  is 
a  Republican,  politically,  and  has  filled  the  offices 
of  Alderman,  President  of  the  School  Board  and 
Mayor  of  the  city.  Socially  he  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Honor. 


son 


H.  McCLELLAND,  Sheriff  of  Coles 
County,  and  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  Charleston  Township,  was  born  Jan.  13, 
1834,  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  and  is  the 
of  Alexander  and  Minerva  (Spangler)  Mc- 
Clelland. His  grandfather,  James  McClelland,  was 
a  "native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  afterward  removed 
to  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  where  he  carried  on  an 
extensive  farming  business,  and  passed  the  closing 
years  of  his  life.  Alexander  McClelland  was  born 
June  3,  1807,  on  the  old  homestead  iu  Ohio,  where 
he  still  lives,  his  farm  containing  400  acres  of 
valuable  land.  He  was  an  active  leading  man  in 
the  community,  and  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  twenty-one  years.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  his  children,  all  of  whom  are  residents  of 
Ohio,  with  the  exception  of  James  H.  :  John  A., 
James  H.,  Samuel,  Salem,  Susanna,  Enos  and 
Charles. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  James  McClelland 
were  passed  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  acquired 
much  experimental  knowledge  in  the  various 
branches  of  agricultural  work,  receiving  at  the 
same  time  a  good  common-school  education.  He 
remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  and  in  the  year  1857  resolved  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  the  West.  Illinois  was  then  advancing 


on  the  road  to  that  prosperity  which  has  since  been 
so  signally  attained,  and  accordingly  he  proceeded 
thither,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  llumbolt  Town- 
ship, Coles  County. 

After  the  Civil  War  broke  out  our  subject  re- 
linquished his  business  and  entered  the  service  of 
his  country,  enlisting  in  1862,  as  Sergeant  in  Co.  C, 
123d  111.  Mtd.  Inf.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  First  Lieutenant  and  served  three  years,  proving 
himself  on  every  occasion  a  brave  and  efficient 
officer.  He  fought  in  the  brilliantly  contested 
siege  of  Atlanta,  and  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of 
Perryville,  Chickamauga,  Murfreesboro,  Farru- 
ington,  Milton  and  Selma,  besides  taking  part  in 
numerous  skirmishes.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising  in  Charleston  Township.  In 
1876  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Clerk  and  Re- 
corder of  the  Circuit  Court  for  a  term  of  four 
years,  and  was  also  Assessor  and  City  Marshal, 
serving  one  year  in  each  offiee.  In  1886  he  was 
elected  Sheriff  for  a  term  of  four  years. 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Zelda  A.  Hedges,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  took  place  in  1858.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  William  Hedges,  of  this  city.  They  have  a 
family  of  five  children — Salem  W.,  Willis  W. 
Jessie  B.,  Mary  E.  and  Bertha  B.  Asa  soldier  and 
civilian,  Mr.  McClelland  has  been  faithful  in  the 
discharge  of  his  public  duties,  and  possesses  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  is 
a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows' 
Society,  and  also  belongs  to  the  G.  A.  R.  and  the 
Knights  of  Honor.  His  residence  is  on  Mechanic 
street. 


;ILLIAM  GRANT,  a  worthy  descendant  of 
one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  this  county, 
resides  on  section  6,  Seven  Hickory  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  April  27,  1843,  in  Fountain 
County,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Sophia 
(Lively)  Grant.  His  grandfather,  Patrick  Grant, 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  near  Belfast,  where 
his  sou.  John,  was  also  born,  June  11,  1809. 
Sophia  Grant  was  born  June  28,  1817,  in  Virginia, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Mar- 
tin) Lively,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Virginia 


J^ 


522 


COLES   COUNTY. 


the  former  in  1795,  and  the  latter  in   about   1800. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Grant  had  a  family  of  eight 
children.  The  following  is  their  record  :  William, 
born  April  27,  1 843 ;  Arthur,  born  in  July,  1845,  and 
died  in  1848;  John  F.,  born  May  7,  1847,  resides 
in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  and  has  a  family  of 
ten  children,  of  whom  six  are  girls  and  four  boys; 
Mary  J.,  born  March  29,  1849,  is  the  wife  of  An- 
drew Montz,  a  resident  of  Ashmore  Township,  and 
has  a  family  of  five  children;  Cynthia  Ann,  born 
Sept.  20,  1852,  is  the  wife  of  I.  W.  Merritt,  a  resi- 
dent of  Hutton  Township,  and  has  two  children 
now  living,  two  having  died  in  childhood ;  Thomas, 
born  April  11,  1854,  died  Dec.  28.  1879,  leaving  a 
family  of  two  children,  one  of  whom  is  living; 
Robert,  born  June  29,  1856,  died  Aug.  11,  1866, 
and  James,  born  April  22,  1859,  lives  in  Hutton 
Township  on  the  old  homestead ;  he  was  twice  mar- 
ried, and  has  one  child  by  his  first  wife,  and  two 
(twins)  by  the  second. 

William  Grant  was  an  infant,  not  quite  six 
months  old,  when  his  parents  settled  in  Hutton 
Township,  this  county,  in  1843.  His  father  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1832,  landing  at  Montreal. 
He  went  thence  to  New  York  State,  and  obtained 
employment  on  the  New  York  &  Erie  Railroad. 
After  remaining  there  about  one  year,  he  went  to 
Virginia,  where  his  marriage  took  place.  He  lived 
there  several  years  engaged  in  operating  on  public 
works,  and  also  owned  a  boat  on  the  James  River 
Canal,  and  then  came  West,  ultimately  settling  in 
Coles  County.  William  remained  on  the  home- 
stead with  his  parents,  assisting  in  cultivating  the 
farm,  until  he  was  twenty-nine  years  of  age.  His 
marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Wall  took  place  Feb. 
12,  1872.  Mrs.  Grant  was  born  in  Ireland,  May 
16,  1849,  and  is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet (Kehoe)  Wall.  Her  parents  came  to  this 
country  when  she  was  an  infant  two  years  of  age. 
The}'  had  but  two  child ren— Elizabeth  and  John; 
the  latter  resides  in  Humbolt  Township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Grant  have  a  familj7  of  seven  children,  five 
sons  and  two  daughters,  as  follows :  William,  born 
Nov.  20,  1872;  John  F.,  March  26,  1874;  Thomas 
A.,  May  29,  1875;  Margaret  M.,  Sept.  28,  1879; 
James  A.,  Feb.  25, 1882;  Joseph  E.,  May  31,  1885, 
and  Francis  O.,  Oct.  20,  1886. 


Mr.  Grant  purchased  his  farm  in  1875,  and  it  is 
well  cultivated  and  improved.  He  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising,  giving  his  at- 
tention in  the  latter  exclusively  to  cattle  and  hogs. 
Mr.  Grant  has  successfully  filled  several  of  the 
township  offices.  In  1872  he  served  as  Collector, 
and  in  1876  as  Assessor;  he  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Official  Board  at  that  time,  both  being  Presidential 
years.  In  1885  and  1886  he  again  served  as 
Assessor  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  for  more  than  twelve  years.  He  was  a 
Trustee  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Humbolt, 
of  which  he  is  a  member.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. 


IH.  JOHNSTON.  Men  who  have  risen  from 
the  humbler  walks  of  life,  and  by  virtue  of  un- 
tiring industry  and  close  application  to  busi- 
ness have  become  prominent  amongst  their  fellows, 
present  in  their  experience  examples  worthy  of 
imitation.  Of  such  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Isaiah  Hugh  Johnston  was  born  April  24,  1827,  in 
Russell  County,  Va.  His  grandparents  on  the  pa- 
ternal side  were  Roderick  and  Elizabeth  (Stewart) 
Johnston,  who  were,  as  the  names  indicate,  origin- 
ally from  Scotland,  although  it  is  quite  certaui 
they  came  to  this  country  from  England:  His 
grandparents  on  the  maternal  side  were  Stephen 
and  Mary  (Gibson)  Fuller,  who  were  of  German 
descent.  His  father,  Abner  Johnston,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  was  born  Oct.  10,  1798.  His  mother, 
Polly  (Fuller)  Johnston,  also  a  native  of  the  Old 
Dominion,  was  born  June  13,  1803. 

Abner  Johnston  and  Polly  Fuller  were  married 
Feb.  10,  1820,  and  in  1830,  with  their  five  children, 
emigrated  to  Coles  County,  III.  They  began  work 
in  their  new  field  of  labor  October  10,  settling  tem- 
porarily in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county,  in 
what  was  then  called  Muddy  Point.  In  the  early 
part  of  1831  they  moved  to  Charleston,  remaining 
but  a  year,  and  then  went  to  the  northwestern  part 
of  the  county,  now  known  as  the  town  of  North 
Okaw.  The  mother  died  Oct.  10,  1835,  leaving 
six  children,  the  eldest  being  fifteen  and  the  young- 
est two  years  of  age.  Abner  Johnston,  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  thinking  he  could  could  do  better  for  the 


COLES   COUNTY. 


523 


helpless  family,  removed  to  Vandalia,  111.,  then  the 
capital  of  the  State,  where  he  held  a  position  in  the 
laud-office.  After  remaining  there  four  years  he 
went  again  to  Muddy  Point,  remaining  there  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  Sept.  18,  1848. 

Abner  and  Polly  Johnston  were  members  in 
good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  their  house  was  one  of  the  headquarters  of  the 
circuit  preachers  of  that  day.  among  whom  were 
Peter  Cartwright,  Barton  Randel,  Hiram  Buck  and 
John  Adams.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  and  a 
stanch  supporter  of  Henry  Clay.  When  the  Black 
Hawk  War  broke  out  and  troops  were  about  start- 
ing from  Charleston,  a  young  man,  Keithly  by 
name,  volunteered  to  go  in  Ahner  Johnston's  place, 
provided  that  a  horse  and  overcoat  be  furnished 
him.  These  he  cheerfully  gave,  for  circumstances 
rendered  it  neccessary  that  he  should  remain  at 
home.  Of  the  six  children  born  to  Abner  and 
Polly  Johnston  three  are  still  living.  Their  record 
is  as  follows;  Leah,  the  eldest,  was  born  Nov.  29, 
1820,  and  died  Aug.  10,  1839;  Matilda  Jane,  born 
Nov.  28,  1822;  James  Franklin,  Feb.  10,  1825,  died 
in  September,  1856;  Isaiah  Hugh,  born  April  24, 
1827;  Mary  Gibson,  June  17,  1829,  died  Feb.  9, 
1859;  Elizabeth  Stewart,  born  Sept.  29,  1833.  Ma- 
tilda J.  was  married  to  James  Jeffris,  Oct.  6,  1842; 
residents  of  Pleasant  Grove,  near  the  place  where 
both  were  reared.  Elizabeth  S.  was  married  to 
A.  A.  Walker;  also  residents  of  Pleasant  Grove. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  passed  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  the  pioneer  fashion,  pursuing 
his  studies  in  the  winter  in  the  log  school-house, 
and  working  at  whatever  he  could  in  the  spring  and 
summer  months.  Three  3'ears  of  this  time  found 
him  engaged  in  hauling  lead  to  Galena  and  Mil- 
waukee, with  an  ox-team,  and  receiving  as  a  re- 
muneration $10  per  month.  This  he  could  not  follow 
continuously,  the  winter  months  being  too  severe 
for  traveling  to  suc.h  an  extent.  Before  the  attain- 
ment of  his  majority  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Harriet  Jeffries,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Patsey  Jeffries,  the  happy  event  taking  place  Feb. 
10,  1848.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  two  chil- 
dren: Felix,  born  June  17,  1849,  and  Emily,  June 
i5,  1851.  Harriet  Johnston,  first  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject, passed  to  her  eternal  home  April  14,  1853. 


This  occasioned  a  change  in  his  programme,  leading 
him  to  leave  the  farm,  upon  which  he  had  labored 
so  faithfully,  and  embarked  in  merchandising  in 
Springville,  purchasing  his  stock  of  goods  on  credit. 
While  thus  engaged  he  was  appointed  Postmaster, 
under  President  Pierce's  administration.  Here  he 

{  remained  about  eighteen  mouths,  then  removed  to 
Johnstown.  Cumberland  County,  where  he  also 
served  as  Postmaster,  this  time  under  President 
Buchanan's  administration.  Here  he  also  had  charge 
of  a  steam  saw  and  grist  mill,  which  he  operated 
successfully,  and  he  now  takes  pleasure  in  looking 
back  ilpon  this  page  in  his  life's  history  as  being  a 
starting  point  in  a  prosperous  business  career. 

In  1857  Mr.  Johnston  moved  to  Mattoon,  where 
he  engaged  in  a  similar  business,  which  he  pursued 
three  years.  In  1858  he  served  as  Alderman,  and 
in  1860  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Coles  County,  neces- 
sitating his  removal  to  the  county  seat  (Charles- 
ton) during  that  year.  To  this  office  he  was  nom- 
inated by  the  Democratic  party,  July  27,  1860,  and 
after  serving  out  his  term,  owing  to  some  political 
difficulty,  continued  in  office  part  of  his  successor's 
term  of  office.  Upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
service,  he  re-engaged  in  merchandising,  this  time 
in  Charleston.  In  this  he  continued  but  a  short 
time,  however,  as  he,  in  connection  with  John  B. 
Hill,  and  Thomas  E.  Stoddart,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Hill,  Stoddart  <fe  Johnston,  engaged  in  pork- 
packing.  Unable  to  compete  with  heavy  concerns 
in  Chicago,  the  firm  went  out  of  business.  Jan.  1, 
1869,  Thomas  A.  Marshall,  John  W.  True  and  Mr. 
Johnston  engaged  in  banking,  opening  a  private 
bank  under  the  firm  name  of  T.  A.  Marshall  &  Co., 
which  they  continued  until  Aug.  1,  1871;  at  that 
time  the  Second  National  Bank  of  Charleston  was 
organized,  and  bought  the  plant  of  T.  A.  Marshall 
&  Co.  The  first  officers  of  the  Second  National 

i    Bank  were  John  W.  True,  President;  Charles  Clary, 

;   Cashier,  and  Felix  Johnston,  Teller.     In  1872  Mr. 

j  True  tendered  his  resignation  as  President  of  the 
bank,  and  George  W.  Parker  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy;  he,  however,  only  served  about  one  .year, 
and  on  July  16,  1873,  just  before  the  panic,  Mr. 
Johnston  was  elected  to  the  office,  which  he  has 
continuously  filled  since.  The  Second  National 

i   Bank,  under  the  wise  administration  of  its  present 


T 


524 


COLES    COUNTY. 


Executive,  has  become  one  of  the  leading  and  in- 
dispensable institutions  of  Charleston,  and  is  fully 
appreciated  by  the  business  portion  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Felix  Johnston,  the  eldest  son  of  our  subject, 
went  into  the  banking  business  upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  firm  of  T.  A.  Marshall  &  Co.,  serving 
first  as  book-keeper,  then  as  teller,  and  is  now  cash- 
ier. 0.  E.  Wilson,  the  husband  of  Mr.  Johnston's 
eldest  daughter,  is  President  of  the  Mattoon  Na- 
tional Bank.  July  10,  1855,  Mr.  Johnston  was  a 
second  time  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Gray,  the  daughter  of  Richard  and 
Rachel  Gray,  and  by  this  marriage  he  had  six  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  George  D.,  born  Nov.  24,  1856, 
died  Feb.  20,  1864;  Flora  G.,  born  Nov.  30,  1860, 
died  Dec.  30,  1861;  Charles,  born  July  14,  1862, 
died  July  10,  1864;  Martha,  born  Oct.  4,  1864; 
Bertha,  May  21,  1868.  and  Isaiah  H.,  Jr.,  May  3, 
1871. 

Since  becoming  a  resident  of  Charleston  Mr. 
Johnston  has  built  quite  a  number  of  business 
houses  and  residences,  and  in  every  way  possible 
has  exerted  his  energies  to  build  up  the  community 
morally  as  well  as  numerically,  aiding  in  the  estab- 
lishment and  maintenance  of  schools  and  churches. 
He  has  also  studied  to  introduce  those  features 
which  would  add  to  the  size  and  value  of  its  popu- 
lation. He  started  in  life  with  nothing  but  his 
strong  will  and  willing  hands,  and  by  pluck  and 
perseverance  has  become  one  of  the  chief  factors 
in  business  circles  of  this  and  adjoining  counties. 


J -JUDGE  JAMES  F.  HUGHES,  who  presides 
I    over  the  Circuit  Court  of  this  district,  has 
I    been    a   resident   of    Mattoon    since    1869. 
'    His   native  place   is  Wayne   County.  Ohio, 
where  his  birth  took  place  Jan.  17,  1839,  and  he  is 
the   son   of    John   and    Susan  (Cavenee)   Hughes, 
natives  respectively  of  Wayne  and  Harrison  Coun- 
ties, Ohio.     The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  John  Hughes,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
born  in  the  city  of  Dublin,  and  followed  the  occu- 
pation   of    a    weaver.      He    married    Miss    Mary 
Hamilton,  a  native  of  Limerick,  and  they  emigrated 


to  America,  settling  in  Greene  County,  Pa.,  whence 
they  afterward  removed  to  Westmoreland  County. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Hughes,  was  a 
native  of  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  where  he  was  born 
March  3,  1785.  He  emigrated  to  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  in  1816,  and  opened  up  a  farm  from  the 
wilderness,  and  established  a  good  homestead  upon 
which  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  April  18,  1861,  after  he  had  reached  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  seventy-six  years.  He  married  in 
early  life  Miss  Jane  Flenniken,  a  native  of  Greene 
County,  Pa.,  and  born  Feb.  12,  1786.  She  only 
lived  to  be  middle  aged,  her  death  occurring  at  the 
homestead  in  Ohio,  July  23,  1835.  The  father  of 
Grandmother  Hughes  was  James  Flenuiken,  a 
native  of  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  who  followed  farm- 
ing all  his  life,  and  died  Aug.  25,  1823,  aged 
seventy-six  years.  His  wife  was  formerly  Miss 
Jane  Dunlap,  also  a  native  of  Chambersburg,  and 
who  survived  her  husband  about  six  years,  dying 
April  10,  1829,  when  eighty-two  years  old.. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  William 
Cavenee,  was  born  May  17,  1781,  in  Sussex 
County,  N.  J.  He  was  a  boot  and  shoe  maker  by 
trade  but  was  fond  of  rural  life,  and  secured  pos- 
session of  a  small  farm  where  he  carried  on  agri- 
culture to  a  limited  extent.  He  became  a  resident 
of  Ohio  at  an  early  day  and  spent  his  later  years 
in  Holmes  County,  where  his  death  took  place 
after  he  was  eighty-one  years  of  age.  He  married 
Miss  Sarah  Force,  who  was  born  Sept.  13,  1793,  in 
Huntingdon,  N.  J.,  and  died  in  Holmes  Count}', 
Ohio,  Oct  9,  1868,  when  seventy -five  years  of  age. 
William  Force,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Cavenee, 
was  born  in  Huntingdon,  N.  J.,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  millwright,  which  he  followed  all  his 
life.  His  death  took  place  March  12,  1831.  His 
wife  was  Miss  Sarah  Anderson,  also  born  at  Hunt- 
ingdon, N.  J.,  and  she  died  Dec.  5,  1842.  The 
maternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  Joseph 
Cavinee  by  name,  a  native  of  Ireland,  emigrated 
to  America  when  a  young  man  and  located  in 
Sussex  County,  N.  J.,  where  he  married  Miss 
Abigail  Critchfield.  a  lady  of  Welsh  birth  and 
parentage.  He  lived  to  be  eighty  years  of  age 
and  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight. 

John  Hughes,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 


T 


COLES   COUNTY. 


525 


i 


Aug.  20,  1816,  and  his  wife,  Susan,  was  born  May 
2,  1818.  The  latter,  prior  to  her  marriage,  was 
engaged  in  teaching.  They  afterward  settled  upon 
a  farm  in  Franklin  Township,  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio,  where  the  elder  Hughes  engaged  quite  ex- 
tensively in  stock-raising.  During  the  late  war  he 
was  in  McGlaughlin's  Squadron  in  Kentucky,  under 
command  of  Gen.  James  A.  Garfiuld,  but  was  dis- 
charged in  1863,  on  account  of  disability.  In 
early  manhood  he]  was  a  member  of  the  old  Whig 
party  and  later  identified  himself  with  the  Re- 
publicans. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  March  1,  1838.  The  record 
of  their  nine  children  is  as  follows :  James  F.  of 
our  sketch  was  the  eldest;  Sarah  became  .the  wife  of 
Charles  Miller,  of  Ohio,  and  the  mother  of  one  child, 
a  son,  Alvah  S.,  now  of  Akron,  Ohio;  she  died  in 
Millersburg,  Ohio,  in  1876.  Cephas  and  Jane 
died  in  infancy;  William  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Antietam,  Sept.  19,  1862;  Janet,  Mrs.  James 
Gibbon,  lives  on  the  battle-field  of  Seven  Pines, 
seven  miles  east  of  Richmond,  Va.,  and  has  four 
children — Grace,  Ethel,  Tobias  and  Hattie;  John 
W.,  of  Decatur,  111.,  married  Miss  Flora  Hill,  of 
Charleston,  111.,  and  they  have  three  sons — Victor, 
Leroy  B.  and  Otto;  Alford  L.  married  Miss  Mary 
Crawford,  of  Ohio,  and  they  have  one  child,  a 
daughter.  Edith;  he  is  an  attorney  of  David  City, 
Butler  Co.,  Neb.  Clara  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Benja- 
min F.  Lang,  of  Weeping  Water,  Neb.,  and  has 
two  children,  daughters,  Edith  May  and  Grace. 

Judge  Hughes  remained  a  member^of  his  father's 
household  until  1867.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army,  enlisting 
first  April  19,  1861,  with  the  three-months'  men  in 
Co.  G,  16th  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.  At  the  expiration  of 
this  term  he  re-enlisted,  July  22,  1862,  for  three 
years,  in  Co.  F,  102d  Ohio  Vol.  Inl.,  going  in  as 
private  and  being  promoted  First  Sergeant.  He 
served  with  his  comrades  in  the  States  of  Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee  and  Alabama,  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  when  he  received  his  honorable  discharge. 

After  returning  from  the  army  our  subject 
entered  the  law  department  of  the  Michigan 
University  of  Ann  Arbor,  in  October,  186f>,  and 
was  graduated  in  March,  1867.  He  then  took  up 


his  residence  in  Sullivan,  Moultrie  Co.,  111.,  where 
he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession, 
and  in  company  with  Capt.  A.  P.  Greene  became 
the  publisher  of  the  Okaw  Republican,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Greene  &  Hughes.  Capt.  Greene 
was  also  a  graduate  of  the  Ann  Arbor  Law  School. 
The  two  gentlemen  operated  together  fifteen 
months,  when  Mr.  Hughes  turned  over  his  interest 
in  the  business  to  his  partner,  and  removed  to  Van- 
dalia.  Three  months  later  he  repaired  to  Shelby  - 
ville  and  spent  one  year  with  Judge  William  J. 
Henry,  assisting  the  latter  in  the  labors  of  his 
office,  and  becoming  familiar  with  the  modes  of 
procedure  and  practice  in  the  courts.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1869,  he  came  to  Mattoon,  and  in  company 
with  Judge  Henry,  opened  an  office  and  the  two 
continued  together  under  the  firm  name  of  Henry 
&  Hughes  until  the  spring  of  1873.  The  junior 
member  of  the  firm  then  became  associated  in 
partnership  with  Judge  Charles  B.  Steele,  and  the 
firm  of  Steele  &  Hughes  continued  until  July  10, 
1877,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  Judge 
Steele,  who  fell  in  his  dooryard  with  a  paralytic 
stroke.  After  this  Judge  Hughes  continued  alone 
in  the  practice. 

The  career  of  Judge  Hughes  from  this  time  on 
led  steadily  upward,  and  on  the  1st  of  June,  1885, 
he  was  elected  Circuit  Judge  for  a  term  of  six 
years,  his  field  covering  nine  counties,  namely, 
Macon,  Moultrie,  Piatt,  Champaign,  Douglas,  Coles, 
Clark,  Edgar  and  Vermilion.  He  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  from 
the  beginning  of  his  public  life  has  been  a^thorough 
Republican. 

The  law  practice  of  Judge  Hughes  yielded  him 
a  fair  income  and  he  has  interested  himself  largely 
in  farming  lands,  being  now  the  owner  of  320  acres 
i  in  Mattoon  Township,  all  of  which  is  under  a 
good  state  of  cultivation  and  comprises  some  of 
the  best  lands  in  the  count}'.  He  also  has  three 
dwelling-houses  in  Mattoon.  His  own  residence  is 
a  cottage  home  of  convenience  and  comfort,  and 
is  located  in  a  pleasant  part  of -the  city. 

The  marriage  of  James  F.  Hughes  and  Miss 
Julia  Chrisman  was  celebrated  at  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Mattoon,  on  the  17th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1874,  the  ceremony  being  conducted  by, 


i 


526 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Bishop  R.  S.  Foster,  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
assisted  by  Dr.  W.  R.  Goodwin,  in  the  presence  of 
the  Illinois  Annual  Conference,  then  in  session  in 
the  city.  Mrs.  Hughes  is  the  daughter  of  Edwin 
L.  and  Emily  E.  (Keyes)  Chrisman.  Mr.  Chrisman 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  married  in 
Edgar  County,  111.,  March  C,  1845.  Mr.  Chrisman 
was  born  March  7,  1817,  and  his  wife,  Emily,  Oct. 
31,  1824.  After  marriage  they  located  upon  a 
farm.  The  record  of  their  four  children  is  as 
follows:  Ingobo  married  Charles  O.  Stocklager, 
and  they  had  two  children — ROJCOC  and  Ing. 
Mrs.  S.  died  in  December,  1880,  at  Galena,  Chero- 
kee Co.,  Kan.  Julia,  the  wife  of  our  subject,  was 
the  second  child ;  Frances  became  the  wife  of  W. 
I.  Branin  and  the  mother  of  four  children.  They 
are  residents  of  Columbus,  Kan.  The  youngest 
brother,  Monroe,  is  also  living  at  that  place. 

The  children  of  Judge  Hughes  and  his  wife  were 
born  as  follows:  Columbia,  July  3,  1875;  Arling- 
ton, July  22,  1876;  Florence,  June  24,  1879. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal t  Church  at  Mattoon.  Judge  Hughes  uses 
neither  tea,  coffee,  tobacco  nor  intoxicating  liquors. 
Born  and  raised  upon  the  farm,  his  tastes  and  sym- 
pathies incline  him  to  rural  life.  He  is  in  robust 
health,  is  over  six  feet  tall,  and  weighs  175  pounds. 
His  career  upon  the  bench  has  been  marked  by  a 
vigorous  enforcement  of  the  laws  against  the  pre- 
vailing crimes  of  the  day.  especially  such  as  the 
illegal  sales  of  intoxicating  liquors,  gambling,  bet- 
ting, lotteries,  prize  fighting  and  sparring  matches, 
election  bribery,  carrying  concealed  weapons,  riot- 
ing and  rowdyisms  of  every  kind.  He  has  in- 
augurated many  reforms  in  the  practice  of  the  bar, 
compelling  respectful  treatment  of  witnesses  by 
attorneys;  enjoining  courtesy  and  repressing  ill- 
natured  sparring  between  opposing  counsel;  re- 
stricting and  limiting  the  argument  of  attorue3Ts 
to  the  evidence  introduced;  requiring  the  prompt 
attendance  of  jurors,  parties  and  witnesses;  con- 
vening court  at  half  past  eight  in  the  morning,  and 
closing  at  six  in  the  evening;  thus,  and  in  many 
other  ways,  facilitating  the  dispatch  of  business, 
clearing  the  dockets  and  curtailing  the  expenses  of 
the  courts.  His  decisions  are  prompt  and  expressed 
in  a  few  words.  He  seldom  hears  argument  on 


questions  of  the  admissibility  of  testimony.  His  rul- 
ing '-competent,"  "sustained,"  "overruled,"  follows 
in  rapid  succession  the  words,  "  I  object,"  of  coun- 
sel trying  the  case.  The  duties  of  his  office  re- 
quire about  nine  months'  labor  in  each  year  on  the 
bench,  and  that  he  might  give  to  the  performance 
of  those  duties  an  undivided  attention,  he  has  laid 
aside  all  other  business.  His  salary  is  13,500  per 
year.  If  the  law  and  order-loving  people  of  this 
circuit  stand  by  him  as  they  are  likely  to  do,  Judge 
Hughes  has  the  promise  of  a  long  and  useful  life 
before  him  upon  the  bench. 


OHN  W.  HANNA.  Among  the  public-spir- 
ited men  of  Mattoou,  the  name  of  John  W. 
Hanna  is  conspicuous  for  enterprise  and  en- 
ergy. In  connection  with  his  business  as 
bookseller,  he  has  had  charge  of  Dole's  opera 
house  for  several  years,  and  with  his  characteristic 
executive  ability,  has  done  more  to  gratify  the  taste 
of  amusement-loving  people  than  any  other  man 
in  the  city.  He  was  born  Dec.  2,  1848,  in  Freeport, 
Harrison  Co.,  Ohio.  His  father,  Rev.  William 
Hanna,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother, 
Mary  (Caldwell)  Hanna,  of  Virginia. 

Our  subject,  who  was  a  boy  of  unusual  intelli- 
gence, attended  the  common  schools  until  he  was 
thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  clerking  in 
his  father's  general  mercantile  establishment  at 
Deersville,  Ohio.  The  best  practical  business  edu- 
cation that  can  be  acquired,  is  gained  through  an 
experimental  knowledge  of  business  at  an  early 
age.  Many  boys  come  from  college  with  a  vast 
amount  of  learning,  but  to  their  astonishment  fre- 
quently find  themselves  incapable  of  dealing  suc- 
cessfully with  the  world,  and  are  often  far  out- 
stripped in  the  race  by  some  bright  country  lad 
who  has  had  his  eyes  about  him,  and  made  a  good 
use  of  limited  advantages. 

In  the  autumn  of  1866  John  Hanna  came  to 
Mattoon  for  the  purpose  of  studying,  his  brother- 
in-law  being  Principal  of  the  West  Side  school.  A 
year  later  he  accepted  a  position  in  a  book-store, 
and  has  continued  in  that  business  until  the  present 
time.  On  July  25,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


527 


Mary  E.  Henderson,  who  had  been  a  teacher  in  the 
West  Side  schools  for  several  years,  and  five  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  all  of  whom  with  one  ex- 
ception, are  living.  Their  names  are,  Gertrude, 
Ethel,  William,  Clara,  and  Charles,  deceased. 

Mr.  Hanna  is  a  hard  worker,  and  thoroughly  un- 
derstands the  details  of  every  business  enterprise 
in  which  he  engages.  He  is  a  devoted  adherent  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  in  1884  was  elected 
Alderman  of  the  Fifth  Ward,  receiving  155  of  the 
200  votes  cast,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term 
in  that  office.  In  his  public  duties  he  is  watchful 
to  promote  the  interests  of  the  people,  and  is  a  close 
and  apt  student,  not  only  of  affairs  of  National 
importance,  but  also  of  municipal.  The  doors  of 
his  handsome  residence  are  frequently  thrown  open 
to  a  large  circle  of  friends,  who  enjoy  partaking  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manna's  generous  and  courteous  hos- 
pitality. 


OATHANIEL  S.  STITES,  familiarly  known 
as  "  N.  S.  Stites,"  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
residing  on  section  25,  Seven  Hickory 
Township.  He  was  born  April  28,  1850,  in  Ham- 
ilton County,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and 
Edith  (Stites)  Stites.  William  Stites  was  born 
Dec.  25,  1822,  in  Columbia  Township,  Hamilton 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  his  wife  Oct.  25, 1821,  in  Cape  May 
County,  N.  J.  In  early  life,  John  Stites,  the  father 
of  William,  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  soon 
after  came  to  Ohio,  where  he  entered  a  claim  and 
engaged  in  farming,  being  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers. (For  further  history  of  parents,  see  sketch 
of  William  Stites.) 

There  were  but  two  children  in  the  family  of 
William  Stites — Nathaniel  S.  and  Thomas  J. ;  the 
latter,  born  Dec.  19,  1845,  lives  in  Bushton.  where 
he  is  engaged  in  a  general  mercantile  business,  and 
deals  in  grain. 

Nathaniel  S.  Stites  lived  with  his  parents  at  the 
homestead  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
He  received  a  good  education  at  the  common 
schools,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  entered  the  High 
School.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Gerard 
took  place  April  23,  1871.  Mrs.  Stites  was  like- 
wise a  native  of  Hamilton  County,  Ohio.  About 


a  year  after  their  marriage  Mr.  Stites  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  young  wife,  and  settled  in  Coles 
County,  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives.  He  re- 
mained here  three  years  engaged  in  farming,  and 
then  removed  to  Morgan  Township,  where  he  re- 
mained about  eight  years,  and  then  returned  to  his 
former  place  in  Seven  Hickory  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nathaniel  S.  Stites  have  a  family 
of  seven  children:  Bertha  O..  born  Feb.  29,  1872, 
in  Butler  County,  Ohio;  Flora  G.,  Nov.  22,  1873, 
in  Coles  County;  Clinton  B.,  Jan.  16,  1876;  Al- 
bert R.,  April  16,  1878;  Willis  A.,  Dec.  2,  1880; 
Lulu  H.,  Feb.  24,  1883,  and  Clara  B.,  Jan.  14, 
1885.  Mr.  Stites  purchased  his  first  tract  of  land 
in  1875,  in  Morgan  Township,  and  in  order  to  ob- 
tain well-located,  valuable  property,  he  paid  $200 
per  acre  for  ten  acres;  it  was  located  about  four 
miles  from  Hinesboro.  (For  further  account,  see 
sketch  of  William  Stites.)  Mr.  Stites  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for 
about  five  years,  in  which  he  is  also  Class-Leader 
and  Steward.  Mrs.  Stites  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  S.  belongs  to 
the  Republican  party. 


J  "7  AMES  GRANT,  located   in   Hutton  Town- 
I    ship,  on  section  20,  is  a  worthy    representa- 
tive of  the  farming  community,  and  gener- 
_       ally  respected  by  his  friends  and  neighbors. 
During  his  residence  here,  he  has  thoroughly  iden- 
tified  himself  with  the  agricultural  and    business 
interests    of   his   township.     He   occupies  the   old 
homestead  of  his  father,  which  was   willed   to   him 
by  the  latter,  and  which  embraces  a  quarter  section 
of  land,   sixty  acres   being   under  cultivation  and 
the  balance  in  timber,  well  watered. 

Our  subject  is  of  Irish  ancestry.  His  grand- 
father, Patrick  Grant,  was  born  in  County  Down, 
where  he  spent  his  entire  life,  was  married,  and 
reared  a  family  of  seven  Children,  who  were  named 
respectively,  Arthur,  John,  Rosa,  Thomas,  Cather- 
ine, William  and  Ann.  Of  these,  Arthur,  John, 
Thomas,  Catherine  and  Ann,  emigrated  to  America, 
and  coming  to  this  State,  located  in  Coles  County. 
John,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  second 


I 


-I 


528 


COLES   COUNTY. 


child,  and  was  born  June  9,  1809.  His  schooling 
in  Ireland  was  very  limited,  but  he  took  up  the 
common  branches  after  coming  .to  this  country  and 
secured  a  practical  education.  This  was  after 
reaching  manhood.  After  setting  sail  from  Liver- 
pool, the  vessel  was  delayed  in  its  journey  several 
months  by  encountering  a_storm,  and  our  subject 
finally  landed  at  Montreal,  Canada,  where  he  re- 
mained nine  months  engaged  on  public  works. 
From  there  he  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he 
worked  for  a  time  on  the  railroad,  and  thence  went 
to  Nelson  County,  Va.,  also. engaging  on  Govern- 
ment works  there.  He.  was  married  there,  also,  to 
Miss  Sophia  Lively,  who  was  born  in  Virginia, 
June  18,  1817,  and  was  the  daughter  of  William 
and  Cynthia  Lively,  natives  of  \rirginia,  where 
they  spent  their  entire  lives. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  after  his  marriage, 
came  with  his  young  wife  to  this  county,  making- 
the  journey  overland,  and  conveying  their  house- 
hold goods  in  two  carts.  They  located  in  Hutton 
Township  in  October,  1841,  and  Mr.  Grant  traded 
a  cart  and  $5  in  money  for  forty  acres  of  timber 
land.  Upon  this  was  a  small  house  into  which  the 
young  people  removed,  and  Mr.  Grant  entered 
upon  the  improvement  of  his  property.  He  was 
successful  in  his  labors,  and  in  due  time  entered 
120  acres  of  timber  land,  a  part  of  which  he  cleared, 
and  in  1858  built  upon  it  the  residence  which  is 
now  occupied  by  his  youngest  son.  They  became 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  and  the  mother  de- 
parted this  life  at  the  homestead,  Aug.  20,  1883. 
John  Grant  died  not  quite  two  years  later,  on  the 
24th  of  May,  1885,  and  the  remains  of  both  were 
laid  to  rest  in  the  old  family  burying-ground  on 
the  homestead.  The  children  of  the  parental  fam- 
ily were  Arthur,  now  deceased,  William  and  John, 
residents  of  Hickory  Township,  Mary,  now  living 
in  Ashmore  Township,  Cynthia,  in  Hutton  Town- 
ship, James,  Thomas  and  Robert.  The  two  latter 
are  also  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  history  was  born  in  Hutton 
Township,  April  23,  1859.  He  remained  with  his 
parents  until  their  death,  receiving  a  common- 
school  education  and  gaining  a  good  insight  into 
the  best  methods  of  conducting  a  farm.  He  was 
married,  Dec.  14,  1881,  to  Miss  Alice,  the  daugh- 


ter of  Robert  and  Lucy  Neal,  who  were  natives  of 
Missouri.  This  lady  died  not  quite  two  years 
later,  Nov.  16,  1883. 

The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to  whom  he  was 
married  Feb.  2,  1886,  was  formerly  Miss  Sophronia 
Myers,  a  native  of  Boone  County.  Ind.,  born  Oct. 
22,  1866.  Her  parents  were  William  and  Ursula 
Myers,  also  natives  of  Indiana.  Of  this  union 
there  have  been  two  children  —  Orlena  and  Orla 
(twins),  born  May  1,  1887.  They  were  bright 
babes,  and  it  was  a  great  grief  to  the  parents  to  be 
called  upon  to  part  with  one  of  them,  Orlena,  who 
died  August  G,  when  three  months  and  five  days 
old. 


\YF^  A.  JENKINS,  proprietor  of  one  of  the  old- 

best  and  most  reliable  houses  for  the  sale  of 
dry-goods,  carpets  and  wall  paper  in  Charles- 
ton, was  born  Aug.  30,  1834,  in  Putnam  County, 
Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  John  M.  and  Nancy  (Mar- 
tin) Jenkins.  His  grandfather,  Elijah  Jenkins,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  when  a  young  man 
became  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Kentucky.  His 
maternal  grandfather,  William  Martin,  was  of  Scotch 
extraction  and  was  likewise  an  early  settler  in  Ken- 
tucky. His  wife  was  of  English  descent,  and  her 
father.  Captain  Coot,  was  a  sailor  in  the  British 
service  for  many  years. 

John  M.  Jenkins  was  taught  the  trade  of  a  brick 
and  stone  mason,  and  afterward  rose  to  the  position 
of  builder  and  contractor.  After  his  removal  to 
Indiana,  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  in  that  State.  He  died  in  1884, 
having  long  survived  his  wife,  whose  death  occurred 
in  1849.  In  early  life  he  was  an  old-line  Whig, 
but  upon^the  organization  of  the  Republican  party 
became  one  of  its  warm  supporters.  He  was  act- 
ively interested  in  public  affairs  during  his  life, 
and  served  in  several  of  the  county  and  township 
offices.  The  family  were  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  and  were  earnest  workers  in 
that  religious  denomination. 

E.  A.  Jenkins  was  reared  on  his   father's   farm, 

where  he  attended  school  and  assisted  in  the  various 

branches  of  farm  labor  until  he  reached  the  age  of 

i   twenty-one.      From  home  he  went  to  Greencastle, 


t. 

ff 


COLES   COUNTY. 


529 


and  there  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  general  store,  re- 
taining the  position  four  years.  His  business  quali- 
fications were  better  adapted  to  mercantile  pursuits 
than  to  agriculture,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1859,  in 
company  with  his  brother,  William  M.,  he  came  to 
this  county,  and  opened  a  dry-goods  house  in 
Charleston.  They  conducted  the  business  success- 
fully until  July,  1886,  when  William  M.  sold  out 
his  interest  to  his  brother  and  nephew,  and  the 
business  is  now  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of 
E.  A.  Jenkins  &  Son. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Jenkins  to  Miss  Amanda 
A.  Jeffries  took  place  May  30,  1861.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Martha  Jeffries,  who  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Charleston.  Mr.  Jef- 
fries is  one  of  the  old  business  men  of  the  city, 
and  is  engaged  in  manufacturing  saddles  and  har- 
ness. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jenkins  have  a  family  of  six 
children,  namely :  John  E.,  a  rising  young  physician 
of  Charleston ;  William  F.,  engaged  in  business 
with  his  father ;  Joseph,  Gertrude,  Fanuie  and  Katie. 

Mr.  Jenkins  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading 
men  of  the  county,  and  his  time  and  talents  are 
not  exclusively  given  to  the  advancement  of  his 
private  interests.  He  served  as  School  Director  for 
three  years,  and  is  a  Trustee  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  of  which  both  himself  and  his  wife 
are  active  members.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  the  society 
of  Royal  Templars,  and  in  politics  is  a  Republican. 


W.  FARRAR,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 


of  Hum  bolt,  is  the  owner  of  a  fine   estate, 


I  containing  420  acres  of  valuable  land,  lo- 
(Kgjjjl)  cated  on  sections  20,  28  and  29,  in  this  town- 
ship. He  was  born  March  4,  1827,  near  Charles- 
ton, S.  C.,  and  is  the  son  of  Franklin  and  Mary 
(Steele)  Farrar.  Franklin  Farrar  was  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  and  was  there  engaged  both  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  and  farming.  He  moved  to 
Perry  County,  Mo.,  in  about  the  year  1830,  where 
he  purchased  land  and  built  a  warehouse,  at  the 
point  where  the  Iron  Mountain  Range  crosses  the 
river;  his  residence  was  situated  nine  miles  from 
town.  He  carried  on  a  successful  business  and 


made  his  permanent  home  there.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  Lebanon,  111.,  while  on  a  business  trip  to 
that  State.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Sarah  (Crabtree)  Steele,  natives  of  Scotland, 
where  Mrs.  Farrar  was  born.  The  family  emi- 
grated to  America  and  settled  in  South  Carolina. 
Samuel  Steele  had  been  a  State  Physician  in  his  na- 
tive country,  and  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  South  Carolina. 

J.  W.  Farrar  had  the  misfortune  to  be  deprived 
of  his  mother  by  death,  when  only  a  few  weeks  old. 
His  maternal  grandparents  took  him  to  their  home 
and  cared  for  him  during  his  infancj'  and  child- 
hood, but  when  he  was  about  twelve  years  of  age 
his  grandfather  died,  and  he  was  then  thrown  upon 
the  world  to  begin  life  for  himself,  when  scarcely 
more  than  a  child.  It  was  difficult  for  so  young  a 
boy  to  procure  employment,  but  he  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a  situation  on  a  farm  near  Mt. 
Vernon,  Ind.,  whither  his  grandmother  had  taken 
him.  After  remaining  there  two  years,  he  passed 
three  years  with  an  uncle  residing  near  New  Har- 
;  mony,  and  then  went  to  Stewartsville,  where  he  ap- 
i  prenticed  himself  to  the  tanner's  trade.  He  applied 
himself  to  that  occupation  three  years  and  a  half, 
and  was  then  summoned  to  Perry  County,  Mo.,  to 
assist  in  settling  his  father's  estate,  whose  death 
had  occurred  a  short  time  previous.  Upon  com- 
pleting this  business,  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and 
spent  one  winter  working  at  his  trade  in  that  city. 
After  passing  four  years  in  this  desultory  fashion, 
working  at  his  trade  in  different  localities,  he  en- 
gaged in  buying  fowls  in  the  country  along  the 
river,  and  shipping  them  to  the  New  Orleans  mar- 
ket. Four  years  later  he  went  to  Posey  County, 
Ind.,  near  Poseyville,  and  was  occupied  in  farming 
there  until  1861. 

This  experience  developing  a  taste  for  agricult- 
ure, our  subject  came  to  Coles  County,  111.,  taking 
charge  of  section  26,  in  this  township,  in  the  inter- 
est of  Jaques  &  Walker,  extensive  land-owners  of 
Evansville,  Ind.  The  land  was  wholly  unimproved, 
and  the  only  neighbors  were  a  few  scattered  fam- 
ilies residing  on  the  outskirts  of  Mattoon,  seven 
miles  distant.  He  immediately  purchased  a  third 
interest  in  the  land,  and  began  the  work  of  ini- 
;  provement  with  renewed  courage  and  energy,  be- 


530 


COLES   COUNTY. 


ing  fairly  successful  in  his  first  crops,  which  were 
of  wheat.  In  1 862  he  decided  to  enter  the  service 
of  his  country  in  the  Civil  War,  and  organized  a 
company  for  that  purpose,  but  his  home  interests 
compelled  him  to  relinquish  the  plan.  In  1864, 
together  with  his  partners,  he  sold  out  his  farm,  and 
determined  on  returning  either  to  Indiana  or  Mis- 
souri, but  having  to  some  extent  already  estab- 
lished himself  in  this  State,  and  gained  a  favorable 
foothold  in  the  community,  he  reconsidered  the 
matter,  and  finally  decided  to  make  his  permanent 
home  here.  With  this  aim  in  view,  he  purchased 
240  acres  of  land  located  on  section  28,  in  Hum- 
bolt  Township,  and  erected  a  commodious  resi- 
dence. He  has  in  the  meantime  added  to  his  es- 
tate 120  acres  located  on  section  29,  and  sixty  on 
section  20,  and  also  owns  a  tract  of  timber  near  by. 

Mr.  Farrar  was  married,  Oct.  12,  1851,  to  Miss 
Ann  M.  Talbot.  Mrs.  Farrar  is  the  daughter  of 
Preston  and  Nancy  (Sharpe)  Talbot,  natives  of 
Shelby  County,  Ky.,  of  which  State  her  paternal 
grandfather,  Ezekiel  Talbot,  was  likewise  a  native. 
Her  maternal  grandfather,  Benjamin  Sharpe,  was  a 
native  of  Maryland.  Mrs.  Farrar's  mother  died 
when  she  was  an  infant,  and  she  was  cared  for  by 
her  older  brothers  and  sisters,  with  whom  she 
made  her  home  until  her  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farrar  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing. Their  first  born,  Mary  Roxana,  died  at  the 
age  of  one  year  and  six  days;  five  others  also  died 
in  infancy;  Joseph  F.  and  Lizzie  A.  are  living. 
Joseph  married  Miss  Mary  Grissom,  and  resides  in 
'this  township;  his  farm  is  situated  two  miles  from 
the  homestead.  Lizzie  became  the  wife  of  Oscar 
Kinsel,  a  grain  dealer  and  merchant,  residing  in 
Piatt  County,  111.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farrar  have  also 
given  a  place  in  their  hearts  and  home  to  six  of 
the>r  brothers'  children.  Their  names  are  as  fol- 
lows: Frederick  Marstella,  C'hauncy  E.,  Anna  L., 
John  P.,  Kitty  T.  and  Emma  L.  Mr.  Farrar  and 
his  wife  have  gi-ven  both  to  their  own  and  their 
adopted  children,  the  best  educational  advantages 
attainable.  It  was  Mr.  Farrar's  aim  to  fit  his  son 
for  professional  life,  but  his  inclinations  led  him  so 
strongly  to  prefer  agricultural  pursuits,  that  he  de- 
cided not  to  interfere.  Four  of  the  children  still 


remain  under  the  fostering  care  of  their  adopted 
parents. 

Mr.  Farrar  has  conducted  his  farm  successfully 
and  has'  given  considerable  attention  to  raising 
Short-horn  cattle,  Clydesdale  and  Norman  horses,' 
and  Poland-China  hogs,  the  latter  being  his  heavi- 
est product  in  stock.  He  does  not  take  a  very 
active  interest  in  politics,  but  alvvays  votes  with 
the  Republican  party.  He  has  served  as  Road 
Commissioner,  School  Director  and  Trustee  for 
many  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farrar  have  always 
been  active  among  the  foremost  workers  in  all  the 
philanthropic  movements  of  the  neighborhood. 
They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  were  among  the  earliest  supporters  of 
the  cause  of  Christ  in  this  community,  having  or- 
ganized the  first  successful  measure  toward  build- 
ing a  church  in  the  township.  Their  influence,  both 
in  public  and  private  life,  has  ever  been  exerted  to 
promote  the  best  interests  of  society. 


AMUEL  RARD1N.  The  essential  facts  in 
the  history  of  the  gentleman  whose  name 
stands  at  the  head  of  this  sketch,  are  mainly 
as  follows:  He  is  a  native  of  Morgan 
Township,  this  county,  his  birth  taking  place  on 
the  farm  of  his  father,  John  H.  Rardin,  Jan.  2, 
1850.  The  mother  before  her  marriage,  was  Miss 
Maliuda  Clark.  The  parents  came  to  this  State 
during  the  pioneer  days,  enduring  bravely  and 
cheerfully,  with  their  compeers,  the  hardships  and 
difficulties  of  life  in  a  new  country. 

John  H.  Rardin  was  born  in  Rising  Sun,  Ind., 
whence  he  was  conveyed  by  his  parents  when 
about  three  months  old,  to  Campbell  County,  Ky. 
He  was  the  sou  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Light) 
Rardin,  natives  of  Campbell  County,  Ky.,  where 
the  father  followed  farming  until  about  1842,  then 
coming  to  this  State,  located  in  Morgan  Township, 
where  he  established  a  permanent  home.  The  par- 
ental household  included  twelve  children,  eight 
now  living. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  thrice  married, 
his  second  wife  being  Miss  Rebecca  Hurst,  who  be- 
came the  mother  of  one  child,  a  daughter  Malinda, 


I 


COLES  COUNTY. 


531 


now  the  wife  of  J.  Calhoun,  of  Rardin.  Mrs.  Re- 
becca Hard  in  died  in  1870.^  -The  third  wife  was 
Miss  Nancy  Campbell,  who  became  the  mother  of 
one  son,  John  H.,  Jr.  The  children  of  the  first 
'marriage  were,  Mary  Ann,  Benjamin,  Samuel, 
James  K.,  Willia.ro  W.  and  Robert  B.  The  father 
is  a  retired  farmer. 

Samuel  Rardin  'spent  his  childhood  and  youth 
mostly  on  the  homestead,  and  in  attendance  at  the 
district  schools.  His  plans  for  the  future  included 
the  establishment  of  a  home  and  family  ties  of  his 
own.  and  he  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1887,  to 
Miss  Lucy  Ryan,  of  Clark  County,  111.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Louis  and  Polly  (McCrory)  Ryan,  na- 
tives of  Indiana,  who  became  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Roscoe,  still  at  home  with  his  mother; 
Jennie,  deceased;  Lucy,  the  wife  of  our  subject, 
and  Mattie,  the  wife  of  John  Carper,  of  Clark 
County. 

Our  subject  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Rardin 
in  1875,  which  office  he  held  until  1887,  and  in  the 
meantime  also  engaged  in  general  merchandising, 
carrying  a  stock  comprising  nearly  everything  re- 
quired in  the  household  and  on  the  farm.  Upon 
withdrawing  from  this  office  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion principally  to  stock  and  grain  raising,  which 
he  has  conducted  on  the  farm  of  his  father  with 
most  satisfactory  results.  He  is  Democratic  in 
politics,  and  has  held  the  offices  of  Collector  and 
Town  Clerk.  He  received  the  advantages  of  a 
good  education,  completing  his  studies  at  West- 
field,  and  has  kept  himself  thoroughly  posted  upon 
current  events. 

Mrs.  Rardin  is  finely  educated,  and  was  teacher 
in  the  school  at  Martinsville,  Clark  County,  for 
three  years.  She  is  a  great  favorite,  socially,  nnd 
a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 


tAMES  W.  CRAIG,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser 
of  this  county,  resides  on  section  20,  Morgan 
Township.  He  is  the  son  of  William  Craig, 
who  was  born  in  October,  1804,  in  Ken- 
tucky. His  paternal  grandparents,  Robert  Craig 
and  Elizabeth  Nichol,  were  natives  of  Virginia. 


Robert  Craig's  father,  William,  was  a  gunsmith  by 
trade.  He  sold  out  his  interest  in  his  native  State, 
and  settled  in  Kentucky  at  an  early  day,  where  he 
built  the  third  or  fourth  house  that  was  erected  in 
Lexington,  and  took  the  first  sheep  there.  He  was 
drafted  for  the  War  of  1812,  and  sent  to  Detroit. 
While  on  the  way  the  regiment  stopped  on  the 
Sandusky,  and  while  there  old  Simon  Kenton 
came  to  him  and  made  his  acquaintance.  Kenton 
told  him  that  his  father  had  repaired  his  gun  for 
him  (Kenton)  many  a  time. 

William  Craig  remained  in  Kentucky  until  he 
was  about  twenty-four  years  of  age,  residing  at  the 
homestead  until  he  was  nineteen.  His  marriage 
took  place  on  Christinas  Day  of  1823,  an  event 
which  was  attended  by  great  festivities.  The  house 
was  decorated  for  the  occasion,  and  the  young  peo- 
ple for  miles  around  assembled  to  congratulate" 
their  young  friends  and  partake  of  the  old-time 
Kentucky  hospitality  and  cheer.  The  bride,  Rosana 
;  Day,  was  born  in  1809,  in  Greenbrier  County,  now 
;  West  Virginia,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Peter  Day. 
Her  parents  came  to  Kentucky  at  an  early  day, 
making  their  home  in  that  State.  James  Day,  a 
brother,  was  drowned  in  1867,  leaving  a  large  fam- 
ily of  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Craig  had  a  family 
;  of  six  children  born  to  them :  Lorenzo  Dow,  born 
|  in  November,  1824,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen; 
Clarinda,  born  in  July,  1826,  died  in  January, 
1848;  she  became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Davis,  and 
left  a  family  of  three  children.  James  W.,  born 
April  26,  1829\  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Isaac, 
born  in  January,  1831,  resides  in  Edgar  County, 
111.,  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  place  where  he 
was  born ;  he  owns  300  acres,  and  also  a  large  farm 
in  Douglas  County ;  he  is  married,  and  has  a  large 
family.  Andrew  Jackson,  who  has  been  for  several 
years  past  a  minister  in  the  Baptist  Church,  resides 
in  Meridian,  Miss.,  where  he  owns  some  property; 
his  eldest  son  is  a  successful  physician  in  Louisiana. 
Peter,  born  in  December,  1834,  was  an  invalid  for 
twenty-five  years,  and  passed  his  life  at  the  home- 
stead, where  his  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three. 

After  his  marriage  William  Craig  cleared  and 
improved  a  tract  of  timber  land,  and  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising.  The  arduous  work  in- 


.  ,    532 


COLES   COUNTY. 


volved  in  this  task  proved  too  great  a  strain  upon 
his  immature  physical  strength,  and  nearly  resulted 
in  breaking  down  his  health.  After  remaining  on 
this  farm  five  years  he  sold  out  his  property  in 
Kentucky  and  came  to  Illinois,  where  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  timber  land  in  Edgar  County,  five 
miles  south  of  Paris,  at  $1.25  per  acre.  He  cleared 
and  improved  this  place,  adding  to  his  property  as 
he  was  prospered  in  business,  until  he  acquired  an 
estate  containing  about  500  acres,  and  made  his 
home  there,  canying  on  a  successful  farming  busi- 
ness until  1854.  He  then  sold  this  property  and 
moved  to  Donica  Point.  He  met  with  an  accident 
while  moving  to  this  place  which  came  veiy  near 
resulting  fatally ;  he  was  thrown  from  his  wagon, 
sacks  of  grain  falling  on  him,  and  it  was  some  time 
before  he  was  extricated,  almost  exhausted  with  cold 
and  suffering.  He  purchased  a  large  farm,  con- 
taining 460  acres,  and  made  his  permanent  home 
there.  His  death  occurred  in  February,  1874.  His 
wife  died  March  3,  1848.  She  was  a  kind  mother 
and  loving  wife.  Mr.  Craig  was  active  and  ener- 
getic in  business  throughout  his  life,  although  never 
strong  physically.  His  health  was  injured  by  pri- 
vation and  exposure  while  serving  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  and  still  further  impaired  by  an  attack 
of  measles,  and  he  was  obliged  to  struggle  against 
much  physical  suffering  and  infirmity.  He  was  a 
leading  member  of  the  Old-School  Baptist  Church, 
and  was  always  active  in  promoting  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  community.  In  politics  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat. His  last  wife  is  living  at  the  old  home  place, 
aged  seventy-five. 

James  Craig  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth  on 
the  homestead,  assisting  his  father  in  the  various 
farm  duties,  and  attending  the  common  schools, 
where  he  received  a  good  practical  education.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-two  his  marriage  with  Miss  Maria 
L.  Miller  took  place.  Mrs.  Craig  was  the  daughter 
of  James  M.  and  Mary  Ann  (Wayne)  Miller,  the 
former  born  in  1791,  in  Scotland,  and  the  latter  in 
the  same  year  in  Virginia.  Mr.  Miller's  family 
emigrated  to  this  country,  and  settled  in  South 
Carolina  at  an  early  day,  where  James  passed  his 
early  life.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Kentucky, 
where  his  marriage  took  place,  and  thence  to  Illi- 
nois in  1830.  He  settled  in  Edgar  County,  just 


below  Paris.  Mr.  Miller  was  an  intelligent,  well- 
educated  man,  and  taught  school  in  the  pioneer 
days,  during  the  early  part  of  his  life,  his  future 
son-in-law,  James  Craig,  being  one  of  his  pupils  at 
the  old  log  school-house.  In  later  life  he  was  en- 
gaged in  official  business,  and  was  serving  as 
County  Clerk  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1853.  His  widow,  who  possessed  an  un- 
usually vigorous  physique,  survived  him  many 
years,  and  died  in  1877,  in  Westfield,  111.  Their 
family  comprised  five  children. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Craig  located  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  which  was  a  gift  from  his 
father,  and  contained  360  acres  (now  700)  of  ex- 
cellent land.  He  came  to  his  new  home  in  the 
autumn  of  1850,  and  began  business  for  himself, 
and  has  been  successful,  adding  to  his  estate  until 
he  owned  at.  one  time  over  1,400  acres.  He  now 
has  the  management  of  about  1,000  acres,  and  car- 
ries on  his  business  of  farming  and  stock-raising,  all 
of  which  is  under  his  supervision  and  direction. 
June  1, 1869,  he  met  with  an  accident  which  has  dis- 
abled him  from  physical  exertion.  He  was  at  that 
time  superintending  the  erection  of  his  farm  resi- 
dence, and  on  a  load  of  doors  and  window  frames, 
was  driving  in  the  barn.  The  load  being  too  high 
he  was  caught,  receiving  injuries  to  the  spine,  which 
have  rendered  him  powerless  to  use  his  lower  limbs. 
During  the  first  two  years  he  was  under  the  care  of 
skillful  physicians,  but  all  means  for  restoration 
have  proved  unavailing. 

Mr.  C.  has  been  twice  married;  his  first  wife  died 
in  the  spring  of  1 858.  She  was  the  mother  of  two 
children,  one  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
months;  the  other,  Rosa  C.,  is  the  wife  of  John  Mc- 
Gregor, a  farmer  residing  in  Morgan  Township. 
February  26,  1860,  Mr.  Craig  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Eliza  J.  Randolph,  a  resident  of  Edgar  County. 
Mrs.  Craig  is  the  daughter  of  Simeon  and  Lucetta 
(I-Iearn)  Stark,  residents  of  Illinois.  They  were 
born  in  Indiana,  and  moved  to  Illinois  in  1857. 
Mr.  Stark  was  a  successful  business  man,  acquiring 
a  good  farm  of  360  acres.  His  wife  died  in  the 
fall  of  1866,  leaving  a  large  family.  She  was  an 
invalid  for  five  years  before  her  death.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stark  were  consistent  members  of  the  Old- 
School  Baptist  Church.  She  was  a  good  mother 


COLES   COUNTY. 


533 


and  loving  wife.  Mr.  Stark  now  lives  in  Missouri. 
Mrs.  Stark's  parents  came  to  Illinois  while  it  was 
yet  a  Terrritory.  His  name  was  Dennis  Hearn, 
hers,  Elizabeth  Smith.  She  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina.  Mr.  Hearn,  after  his  marriage,  moved 
from  Illinois  to  near  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  before  the 
town  was  thought  of.  He  died  in  1867.  His  wife 
still  survives  him,  being  eighty-seven  years  old. 
She  lives  in  Terre  Haute  with  one  of  her  daughters, 
and  is  very  active  for  one  of  her  age.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hearn  were  faithful  members  of  the  Old- 
School  Baptist  Church.  Mrs.  Craig  was  the 
mother  of  one  son  by  her  first  husband,  R.  C. 
Randolph,  a  farmer  residing  in  Seven  Hickory 
Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Craig  had  two  chil- 
dren born  to  them:  Maria  L.,  born  Sept.  10, 
1865,  died  in  her  eighteenth  year;  William  S., 
born  May  1,  1867,  resides  at  the  homestead,  and 
assists  his  father  in  business. 


AMUEL  A.  REEL,  physician  and  surgeon, 
of  Oakland,  has  been  established  there  for 
the  past  twenty  years,  during  which  time 
he  has  built  up  a  good  practice  and  num- 
bers among  his  friends  and  patrons  the  best  resi- 
dents of  Coles  County.  Dr.  Reel  is  a  native  of 
Gibson  County,  Ind..  born  May  3,  1829,  and  is  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Neely)  Reel,  natives 
of  Kentucky,  the  former  born  forty  miles  south  of 
Louisville,  Feb.  14,  1793.  The  paternal  grand- 
parents of  our  subject  were  John  and  Catherine 
(Stooky)  Reel,  natives  of  New  York  State,  where, 
after  serving  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War 
seven  years,  John  Reel  finally  located,  and  carried 
on  farming  the  balance  of  his  life.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  also 
served  on  the  side  of  the  Colonists  during  their 
struggle  for  liberty,  as  a  commissioned  officer.  He 
was  under  the  immediate  command  of  Gens.  Wash- 
ington and  Marion.  Both  grandfathers  died  in 
about  1808. 

Henry  Reel,  the  father  of  our  subject,  departed 
this  life  in  Gibson  County,  Ind.,  March  25,  1871. 
The  wife  and  mother,  who  was  born  Dec.  13,  1794. 
was -the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Marietta  (John- 
son) Neely,  natives  of  Virginia,  who  were  numbered 


among  the  most  highly  respected  residents  of  the 
farming  community  of  their  section  of  the  State. 
She  was  married  to  Henry  Reel,  May  7,  1815, 
and  departed  this  life  Nov.  10.  1874.  She  became 
the  mother  of  fourteen  children.  Their  eldest  son, 
John,  was  born  Feb.  13,  1816;  Eliza  A.,  Aug.  15, 
1817;  Elizabeth.  Feb.  13,  1819;  Joseph,  Oct.  31, 
1820;  David  L.,  Aug.  31,  1822;  Margaret  A.,,  May 
6,  1824;  Eleanor,  Dec.  25,  1825;  Martha  J.,  Sept. 
3,  1827  ;  Samuel  A.,  of  our  sketch,  is  already  given; 
Thomas  J.,  Jan.  2  t,  1831;  Henry  C.,  Oct.  2,  1832; 
Franklin  M.,  Aug.  11,  1834;  Catherine  N..  Dec.  3, 
1836;  Nancy  J.,  Sept.  17,  1838. 

Samuel  Reel  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and 
attended  school  in  the  winter  until  1851,  although 
in  the  meantime  having  been  employed  as  a  teacher 
in  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Illinois  and  Indiana.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1850-51,  he  attended  the  medical 
school  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  after  completing 
his  course  of  study  proceeded  westward,  across 
the  Mississippi  into  Iowa.  He  remained  there, 
however,  only  about  six  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Cumberland  County,  111.,  thence  to  Gibson 
County,  Ind.,  in  1858,  where  he  employed  his  time 
in  reading  medicine  until  the' outbreak  of  the  late 
war.  He  then  enlisted,  in  August,  1861,  in  the 
58th  Indiana  Infantry,  as  private  in  Company  K, 
and  after  two  months  was  detailed  as  Hospital 
Steward.  In  crossing  Barren  River,  near  Bowling 
Green.  Ky.,  he  was  wounded  in  the  right  side,  and 
in  September  received  his  discharge  on  account  of 
disability.  From  this  he  has  never  full}'  recovered, 
and  on  account  of  it  receives  a  pension  from  the 
Government. 

Upon  returning  from  the  army  Dr.  Reel  lo- 
cated in  Douglas  County,  where  he  followed  his 
profession  until  1866,  and  then  took  up  his  resi- 
dence at  Oakland.  He  is  the  only  eclectic  physician 
in  the  town,  and  his  labors  have  been  attended  with 
great  success,  enabling  him  to  accumulate  a  fine 
property.  This  includes  540  acres  of  valuable 
land,  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  family 
residence  in  Oakland  is  an  imposing  structure,  and 
a  model  of  comfort  and  convenience. 

The  lady  who  has  presided  with  grace  and 
dignity  over  the  domestic  affairs  of  our  subject, 
and  was  his  earnest  helper  and  sympathizer  in  his 


534 


COLES   COUNTY. 


efforts  to  sec  n  re  a  go  3d  position  in  life,  was  formerly 
Miss  Eliza  Adams,  who  became  his  wife  May  19, 
1853.  Mrs.  R.  is  a  native  of  this  county,  to  which 
her  parents  came  in  the  pioneer  clays,  and  was  born 
April  22,  1836,  in  Pleasant  Grove  Township.  She 
is  the  daughter  of  John  .1.  and  Martha  (Gammel) 
Adams,  natives  of  Tennessee.  Her  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  during  the  progress  of 
the  Mexican  War  held  the  position  of  Second 
Lieutenant  in  the  Federal  ranks.  Afterward  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  this  county,  where  his 
death  took  place  Dec.  27,  1878,  after  he  had 
arrived  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-two  years. 
He  was  also  First  Lieutenant  in  an  Illinois  cavalry 
regiment  in  the  late  war,  serving  three  years,  and 
by  his  bravery  and  attention  to  duty  secured  the 
approval  of  his  superiors  and  the  respect  of  his 
subordinates.  The  seven  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Reel  were  named  respective^',  Martha  A.,  now  de- 
ceased ;  John  F.,  of  the  firm  of  Curtis  &  Reel,  who 
are  carrying  on  general  merchandising  at  Oakland; 
Kate  I.,  Lidie  A.;  Nancy  C.,  who  died  when  three 
months  old  ;  Lina  M.  and  William  E. 

Dr.  Reel  from  a  youth  was  piously  inclined,  and 
was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  in  October,  1867,  and  for  four  years 
occupied  the  pulpit  in  various  places  in  this  part 
of  the  State.  He  finally  withdrew  from  the  Pres- 
bytery, being  fully  occupied  with  his  farming  and 
his  practice.  He  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  also  belongs  to  Oak- 
land Lodge  No.  545,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in  which  he  has 
been  Treasurer  and  High  Priest.  He  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  G.  A.  R.  as  Surgeon  of  the  order. 
He  occupies  a  high  position  among  his  professional 
brethren,  and  is  a  man  whose  judgment  and  in- 
tegrity are  unquestioned. 


GUNTHER  WEISS,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Weiss  &  Son,  is,  with  the  latter, 
proprietor  of  the  Charleston  Woolen  Mills, 
located  at  the  intersection  of  Factory  and  West 
Washington  streets.  The  history  of  this  well-to- 
do,  substantial  resident  and  business  man,  is  briefly 
as  follows:  Mr.  Weiss  was  born  in  the  little  village 


of  Lentenberg.  in  the  Province  of  Schwarzburg- 
Rudolstadt,  Germany,  July  6,  1823.  His  parents 
were  Christopher  and  Phillipena  Weiss,  natives  of 
the  same  locality.  His  father  was  a  manufacturer 
of  cotton  goods,  giving  employment  to  many 
operators  and  carried  on  a  large  mercantile  business. 

In  accordance  with  the  laws  and  customs  of  his 
native  country,  Gunther  Weiss  was  placed  in 
school  at  an  early  age,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
uninterruptedly  until  fourteen  years  old.  He  then 
employed  himself  in  the  mills  and  store  of  his 
father  until  after  reaching  his  majority.  He  was 
always  of  a  reflective  and  ambitious  turn  of  mind, 
and  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic.  Embarking  on  a  sailing-vessel 
at  Liverpool,  he  landed  at  Galveston,  Tex.,  and 
occupied  his  time  in  various  ways  until  the  year 
following,  when  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with 
Mexico  afforded  a  means  of  employment  to  many 
who  were  idle.  Young  Weiss,  in  common  with 
many  others,  enlisted  as  a  soldier  at  the  first  call 
for  volunteers,  becoming  a  member  of  the  1st 
Texas  Infantry,  and  serving  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor.  His  army  ex- 
perience, however,  only  occupied  him  for  about 
five  months,  when  the  struggle  ended,  and  he  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge.  Then,  in  company 
with  two  other  gentlemen,  he  proceeded  to  New 
Orleans,  and  engaged  in  the  sugar  trade,  which 
proved  a  venture  in  no  wise  remunerative^  as  when 
they  closed  out  their  business  some  months  later, 
our  subject  had  but  $6  to  show  for  his  labor. 

In  the  spring  of  1848,  Gunther  Weiss  took  up 
his  abode  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1852,  and  then  longing  for  a  sight  of 
the  faces  of  his  old  friends,  he  embarked  on  a 
steamer  for  his  native  land,  receiving  his  passport 
from  the  hand  of  Daniel  Webster.  He  spent  six 
months  in  his  native  Province,  and  then,  encour- 
aged and  refreshed  for  the  further  labors  of  life, 
returned  to  the  New  World.  Proceeding  to  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  he  was  successfully  engaged  for  a 
period  of  twenty-two  years.  In  the  meantime, 
however,  he  had  in  1866  once  more  visited  his 
native  land,  and  made  a  specialty  of  informing 
himself  in  regard  to  the  latest  improvements  in 
connection  with  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of 


4 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

IlLltvO'S 


COLES   COUNTY. 


53? 


cottons  and  woolens.  Thus  armed  he  returned  to 
the  United  States  and  prepared  to  follow  the  busi- 
ness of  his  father  before  him.  The  Charleston 
Woolen  Mills  had  already  been  established,  and  of 
these  Mr.  Weiss  assumed  the  management,  in  1873, 
although  he  had  been  connected  with  the  business 
as  a  partner  since  1869.  These  mills  have  now  be- 
come a  leading  feature  in  the  industries  of  Coles 
County,  and  under  the  wise  supervision  of  Mr. 
Weiss  have  made  good  progress  each  year,  giving 
employment  to  twenty-five  persons,  and  disposing 
of  goods  mostly  at  wholesale.  His  eldest  son  is 
employed  as  a  traveling  salesman,  and  gives 
indication  of  possessing  the  same  business  talent 
as  his  father,  by  whom  he  has  been  admitted  as  an 
equal  .partner. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Weiss  took  place  in  1850, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Caroline  Newhart, 
a  native  of  his  own  country,  who  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  with  her  parents.  Of  the  eight 
children  now  included  in  the  household  circle,  the 
record  is  as  follows:  Otto,  the  eldest,  has  been 
referred  to  heretofore;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Alfred 
C.  Ficklin,  of  Charleston,  and  the  mother  of  three 
children — Orlando,  Otto  and  Walter.  Louise, 
Aurora,  Helena,  Harry  and  Mamie  are  at  home 
with  their  parents;  Adolph,  the  sixth  child,  is  a 
lumber  merchant  at  Los  Angeles,  Qal.  Mr.  Weiss, 
since  assuming  the  rights  of  citizenship,  has  been  a 
stanch  supporter  of  Republican  principles,  and 
with  his  family,  is  a  regular  attendant  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


LIVER  H.  AMES,  a  gentleman  of  cultivated 
tastes  and  good  education,  owns  and  occu- 
pies a  homestead  on  section  23,  in  North 
Okaw  Township,  his  property  including  160  acres 
of  good  land.  His  early  advantages  in  life  were 
somewhat  limited,  but  he  made  the  most  of  his  op- 
portunities, and  by  the  perusal  of  good  books,  and 
associating  with  well-bred  and  educated  people,  he 
has  attained  to  a  high  position  in  his  community, 
and  is  numbered  among  .the  intelligent  and  pro- 
gressive men  of  Coles  County.  His  land  is  mainly 
devoted  to  general  agriculture,  although  he  raises 
thoroughbred  stock. 


Mr.  Ames  is  a  native  of  Wayne  County,  Pa.,  his 
birth  taking  place  there  Nov.  16,  1840.  He  is  the 
eldest  child  of  Nelson  W.  and  Nancy  (Hoadley) 
Ames,  natives  of  the  same  county  as  their  son. 
The  father  was  born  Feb.  9,  1817.  His  paternal 
grandparents  were  Joseph  and  Gertrude  (Schenck) 
Ames,  who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
Keystone  State,  and  upon  first  locating  in  Wayne 
County  were  obliged  to  go  forty  miles  to  mill. 
Both  the  parents  and  grandparents  spent  their  lives 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  their  remains  were  laid  to 
rest  beneath  its  soil. 

Our  subject  when  a  lad  of  nine  years,  was  de- 
prived by  death  of  the  affectionate  care  of  his 
mother.  His  father  afterward  married  Miss  Susan 
A.  Cramer,  and  Oliver  H.  remained  at  home  until 
reaching  his  majority.  Upon  leaving  the  parental 
roof  he  was  engaged  by  the  month  on  a  farm,  and 
continued  thus  occupied  for  three  years.  He  was 
married,  May  4.  1864,  to  Miss  Susanna  S.,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Morton)  Whitney,  the 
wedding  taking  place  at  Charleston,  this  county. 
Mrs.  Ames  was  the  second  in  a  family  of  seven 
children  born  to  her  parents,  and  remained  with 
them  until  her  marriage.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father, Charles  Morton,  was  the  original  founder 
of  the  city  of  Charleston,  and  the  court-house  now 
stands  on  land  which  he  deeded  to  the  city  for 
that  purpose.  Mrs.  Ames  received  a  good  educa- 
tion, and  for  several  years  taught  school  in  this 
county,  being  thus  employed  until  a  few  months 
after  her  marriage.  The  second  .year  the  young 
people  repaired  to  the  farm  of  Mrs.  Whitney,  in 
Mattoon  Township,  and  the  third  year  our  subject 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  36,  in 
North  Okaw  Township.  He  occupied  this  but  a 
short  time,  however,  when  he  rented  a  quarter  sec- 
tion adjacent,  and  operated  upon  that  until  pre- 
pared to  purchase.  In  1879  he  bought  120  acres 
on  section  23,  to  which  he  removed  his  family  and 
where  he  has  since  resided.  His  first  great  afflic- 
tion occurred  on  the  12th  of  August,  1886,  when, 
the  affectionate  wife  aurl  mother  was  called  hence, 
leaving  four  children.  As  a  lady  she  possessed 
many  amiable  and  lovable  qualities,  and  was  deeply 
mourned  by  her  family  and  numerous  friends. 
Mrs.  Ames  was  born  in  Charleston,  111.,  Feb.  4, 
•» 


538 


COLES   COUNTY. 


1  842,  and  was  consequently  a  little  over  forty-four 
years  of  age.  One  child  had  passed  away  before 
the  death  of  the  mother.  Those  remaining  are, 
Willie  II.,  Foster  C.,  Harry  D.,  Nellie  and  Gertrude. 
The  deceased  child  was  a  little  daughter  named 
Mary  O.  Mrs.  Ames  was  never  very  strong,  and 
finding  herself  afflicted  with  heart  decease,  went  to 
Kansas  to  remain  for  a  time  with  her  sister,  and 
there  closed  her  eyes  upon  the  scenes  of  earth. 
She  had  been  educated  by  her  stepfather,  Rufus 
Pierce,  and  was  a  more  than  ordinary  lady.  She 
had  been  a  great  sufferer,  but  bore  her  afflictions 
uncomplainingly,  and  presented  a  beautiful  exam- 
ple of  patience  and  resignation.  While  a  professed 
Christian,  she  had  not  formally  identified  herself 
with  any  religious  denomination,  although  an  act- 
ive worker  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Mr.  Ames  is  determined  to  keep  his  little  family 
together,  and  give  them  all  the  advantages  possible. 
Our  subject  usually  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
but  has  very  little  to  do  with  politics,  bis  fanning 
and  business  interests  absorbing  the  most  of  his 
time  and  attention.  Whatever  leisure  he  has  is  de- 
voted to  reading  and  study.  He  has  added  to  his 
first  purchase  of  laud,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  300 
acres,  all  under  cultivation  and  yielding  some  of 
the  finest  products  of  the  Prairie  State.  It  is  with 
pleasure  that  the  publishers  present  the  portrait  of 
Mr.  Ames  in  this  volume,  as  that  of  one  of  the 
representative  men^of  ColesTJounty. 


J'OHN  HALL  RARDIN,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Morgan  Township,  and  residing  in  the  town 
which  bears  his  name,  is  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Coles  County,  and  a  descendant  of  one  of 

the  pioneer  families  of  Illinois.  He  was  horn  Feb. 
24,  1818,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Catherine 
(Light)  Rardin.  Samuel  Rardin  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, Nov.  1(>,  1790,  and  was  the  son  of  John 
and  M.  (Hull)  Rardin,  the  former  a  native  of  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  the  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Catherine  Light,  and  was  born  in  Cler- 
mont  County,  Ohio.  Dec.  5,  1790.  Of  her  union 
•with  Samuel  Rardin  there  were  born  twelve  chil- 


dren, eight  of  whom  are  now  living:  Jacob,  John, 
Frank  and  Nancy  are  residents  of  Morgan  Town- 
ship, this  county,  and  the  others  have  been  at- 
tracted by  business  interests  to  different  places  in 
Missouri  and  Kansas. 

While  John  Hall  Rardin  was  still  an  infant,  his 
father  settled  in  Kentucky,  remaining  there  with 
his  family  until  their  removal  to  Coles  County  in 
1 842.  The  death  of  his  parents  occurred  soon  after 
their  arrival  here;  the  father  dying  in  July,  1843, 
while  John  was  away  from  home  in  Kentucky,  and 
the  mother  two  years  later,  in  1845.  Our  subject 
in  1844  purchased  forty-four  acres  of  land  and  was 
married  March  6,  1845,  to  Miss  Melinda  Clark,  of 
Coles  County.  Mrs.  Rardin  was  the  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Hammonds)  Clark,  natives 
of  Kentucky,  whence  they  removed  to  Illinois  in 
1831,  and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  this 
county.  They  located  in  what  afterward  became 
Morgan  Township,  and  here  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  There  were  eight  children  in  Mr. 
Clark's  family  at  the  time  of  his  daughter's  mar- 
riage, all  of  whom  settled  in  Coles  County,  with 
the  exception  of  his  son,  William,  who  is  a  resident 
of  Kansas. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rardin  became  the  parents  of  six 
children,  of  whom  the  record  is  as  follows:  Mary 
Ann  was  born  Feb.  13,  1846,  became  the  wife  of 
Porter  Johnson,  and  is  now  deceased;  Benjamin, 
born  June  28,  1848,  died  Aug.  17,  1860;  Samuel 
was  born  Jan.  2,  1850;  James  K.,  June  28,  1851; 
Willie  W.,  born  May  19,  1853,  died  Aug.  17,  1882; 
and  Robert  Bruce,  born  June  2,  1855,  died  Dec. 
13,1871.  Mrs.  Melinda  (Clark)  Rardin  died  March 
13,  1857.  The  second  wife  of  our  subject  was 
Mrs.  Rebecca  A.  Hurst.  She  was  born  April  17, 
1825,  and  died  April  17,  1865.  Of  this  marriage 
there  was  one  child,  Melinda  Jane,  born  May  15, 
1862;  she  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Calhoun,  a  resi- 
dent of  Morgan  Township,  and  is  the  mother  of 
two  children.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject,  to 
whom  he  was  married  Dec.  18,  1873,  was  formerly 
Mrs.  Nancy  Campbell.  By  this  marriage  one  son 
was  born,  Feb.  3,  1875,  and  was  named  John  Hall, 
after  his  father. 

Mr.  Rardin  added  to  his  first  purchase  of  land 
until  he  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  440  acres.  He 


COLES    COUNTY. 


539 


has  always  been  an  active  and  influential  citizen, 
and  was  the  founder  of  the  town  which  bears  his 
name.  Karelin  has  a  population  of  150  inhabitants, 
and  contains  a  church,  two  stores,  a  doctor's  office, 
a  blacksmith  and  saddler's  shop,  and  an  elevator. 

Mr.  Karelin  has  rented  his  farm  and  retired  from 
the  cares  of  active  business,  and  is  passing  the  clos- 
ing years  of  a  busy  and  useful  life  in  the  ease  and 
enjoyment  justly  his  due.  Miss  Alma  Callahan  is 
a  member  of  their  family.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
Frank  and  Mary  Ellen  Callahan,  and  was  born  May 
9,  1875.  She  has  received  a  home  in  Mr.  Ilardin's 
family  since  her  father's  death.  Her  widowed 
mother  resides  in  Clark  County,  111.  Mrs.  Rardin 
is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  is  actively  interested  in  promoting  its 
welfare.  We  place  the  portrait  of  Mr.  Karelin  in 
this  volume,  among  those  of  other  representative 
men  of  Coles  County. 


I 


-*- 


P.  ORLAND,  master  mechanic  of  the  I.  & 
St.  L.  R.  R.  at  Mattoon,  was  born  in  Cuy- 
ahoga  County,  Ohio,  Nov.  18,  1843,  and 
is  the  son  of  William  and  Eliza  (Powers)  Orlaiid. 
His  parents  were  of  English  birth  and  ancestry, 
and  his  father  during  his  entire  life  engaged  in 
merchandising.  His  death  took  place  on  his  native 
soil  in  1856.  The  mother  survived  her  husband 
for  twenty-eight  years,  her  death  taking  place  in 
1884.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children 
only:  Harry,  engineer  in  the  fire  department  in 
the  city  of  Cleveland;  Annie,  Mrs.  Middleton,  also 
a  resident  of  that  city,  and  W.  P.,  of  our  sketch. 

Mr.  Orland  completed  his  eelucation  in  the  city 
schools  of  Cleveland,  and  when  a  youth  of  seven- 
teen years  commenced  learning  the  machinist  trade 
in  the  Globe  Iron  Works,  where  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  three  years.  He  was  then  on  the 
lakes  as  engineer  a  year,  when  he  returned  to  terra 
firma  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  C.  C.  It.  R.  Co. 
with  whom  he  remained  three  years.  Upon  leav- 
ing Ohio  he  migrated  to  this  State,  but  subsequently 
returned  to  Cleveland,  in  the  meantime  being  em- 
ployed at  his  chosen  vocation,  and  then  attained  to 
the  position  of  foreman.  In  1884  he  accepted  his 


present  position,  where  he  has  since  remained  and 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He  has  the  super- 
vision of  200  men,  and  as  may  be  supposed,  un- 
derstands fully  all  his  duties. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  formerly  Miss  Alice, 
the  daughter  of  Addison  and  Mary  (Goss)  Hyde, 
and  they  were  married  in  1865-.  Mrs.  Orland  was 
born  in  Ohio  in  1847,  and  by  her  union  with  our 
subject  has  become  the  mother  of  four  children — 
Herbert,  Fannie  and  Frank,  twins,  and  Clarence. 
They  occupy  a  neat  residence  on  Wabash  street, 
and  enjoy  the  society  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  are  members  in  good  standing  of 
the  Christian  Church.  Our  subject,  politically,  is 
a  decided  Republican,  and  socially,  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 


<jfl  OHN  W.  BEAVERS,  deceased.  The  history 
of  this  late  and  highly  respected  resident  of 
Humbolt  Township,  is  in  its  main  points  as 
follows:  He  was  born  in  Hampshire  Coun- 
ty, Va.,  in  1814,  and  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
eight  children.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  during  his  youth 
followed  boating  on  the  Potomac  River,  which  he 
continued  until  1836,  and  for  two  years  thereafter 
occupied  himself  in  teaming.  He  migrated  west- 
ward in  1838,  locating  first  at  Bourbon,  Douglas 
County,  this  State,  where  he  resided  two  years,  ami 
then  returned  to  the  Old  Dominion  to  fulfill  the 
pledge  which  he  had  made  to  his  betrothed  wife, 
Miss  Mary  A.  Madden.  This  lady  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Ruth  (Price)  Madden,  natives 
of  Virginia,  and  the  mother  a  sister  of  Gen.  Sterling 
Price. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Beavers  locateel  with  his 
young  wife  two  miles  from  Cumberland,  Md.,  on 
the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac  River,  where  he 
followed  farming  two  years,  and  whence  he  re- 
moved to  another  farm  in  that  vicinity,  where  he 
remained  six  years.  He  came  West  in  1852, 
settling  at  once  in  Humbolt  Township,  where  he 
purchased  160  acres  of  wild  land,  and  entered 
industriously  upon  its  improvement  and  cultiva- 
tion. Four  years  later  he  crossed  the  Mississippi 


540 


COLES  COUNTY. 


into  Washington  County,  Iowa,  where,  however,  he 
remained  but  a  short  time,  and  returning  to  Hum- 
bolt  Township,  purchased  200  acres  on  section  35, 
where  in  due  time  he  engaged  extensively  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising,  and  where  he  established  a 
comfortable  home  and  spent  his  last  days.  His 
death  occurred  on  the  13th  of  April,  1875,  and  he 
is  remembered  as  a  citizen  who  identified  himself 
with  the  best  interests  of  his  adopted  county, 
doing  all  in  his  power  to  further  the  welfare  of  the 
people  around  him.  He  was  the  second  Supervisor 
representing  the  township  on  the  County  Board 
and  served  as  Road  Commissioner  many  years.  In 
politics  he  was  a  stanch  Democrat. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beavers,  six  in 
number,  were  named  respectively,  Samuel  M.,  John 
B.,  Richard  R.,  George  W.,  Marcellus  S.  and  Mary 
E.  These  are  all  living  with  the  exception  of 
George  W. 


HOMAS  W.  GRIMES,  a  prosperous  farmer 
w»vi  and  stock-grower,  is  a  resident  of  Pleasant 
Grove  Township,  and  represents  one  of  the 
self-made  men  of  Illinois,  who  have  aided  in  mak- 
ing this  State  famous  in  the  annals  of  history  for 
the  patriotism  and  the  courage  of  its  citizens  in 
war,  and  for  their  enterprise  and  prosperity  in 
peace.  He  is  the  son  of  Hezekiah  and  Frances 
(Wood)  Grimes,  and  was  born  Nov.  24,  1839,  in 
E.lkhart  County,  Ind.  His  family  is  of  Irish  ex- 
traction. His  grandfather,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
came  to  the  United  States  when  a  boy  and  settled 
in  Ohio. 

Hezekiah  Grimes  was  born  near  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
Dec.  15,  1816.  He  passed  his  boyhood  and  youth 
at  home,  and  after  his  marriage  to  Miss  Frances 
Wood,  who  was  likewise  a  native  of  Ohio,  he  re- 
moved to  Elkhart  County,  Ind.  He  remained 
there  several  years,  and  in  1849  came  to  Illinois, 
making  his  home  in  Cumberland  County,  near  Coles. 
The  year  following  their  removal  to  Illinois,  Mrs. 
Grimes  died,  leaving  her  husband  with  six  mother- 
less children,  one  child  having  died  in  infancy — 
John  S.,  Mary,  Thomas  W.,  Sarah,  Nancy  E.  and 
E.  M.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Jackson  Gill;  Sarah 
married  Jonathan  Brewer;  Nancy  was  the  wife  of 


Seneca  Rariden,  and  is  now  deceased.  Mr.  Grimes 
subsequently  married  Miss  Nancy  Wells,  of  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  and  of  this  marriage  there  were  born 
the  following  children:  Martha  Ellen,  deceased; 
William  Theodore  and  Levi.  He  is  still  living,  and 
resides  in  Marshall  County,  Kan. 

Thomas  Grimes  passed  his  boyhood  on  his  father's 
farm  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  was 
then  apprenticed  to  the  saddler's  trade  in  Charles- 
ton, but  that  occupation  proved  so  distasteful  to 
him  that  he  only  served  about  four  months,  and  then 
returned  to  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
started  out  to  begin  the  world  for  himself,  with  only 
$2.50  in  his  pocket,  having  agreed  to  pay  his  father 
$60  for  the  privilege  of  leaving  home  while  a  minor. 
He  was  first  employed  as  a  wage- worker  on  the  farm 
of  Col.  Adams  at  Farmingtou,  receiving$15  a  month 
for  his  services  during  the  summer,  and  in  the  win- 
ter attended  school  and  worked  for  his  board.  He 
was  faithful  and  industrious  and  remained  with  Col. 
Adams  three  years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time  was  employed  by  Rev.  John  McDonald  for 
two  years,  at  $16  per  month.  Thus,  working  hard 
and  attending  school  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  on 
Feb.  21,  1861,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Alli- 
son, the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret  Ann 
(Cathy)  Allison,  and  born  June  18,  1841,  in  Coles 
County. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Grimes  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  the  following  j'ear,  and  then  left  his  busi- 
ness and  home  to  serve  in  the  Civil  War.  He  en- 
listed and  was  mustered  into  service  with  Co.  I, 
123d  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  proved  himself  a  brave  and 
faithful  soldier,  taking  part  in  all  the  battles  in 
which  his  regiment  was  engaged  except  that  of 
Perry ville.  He  was  in  the  field  hospital  one 
month  at  Louisville,  Ky.,andat  the  battle  near  Mil- 
ton, Teuu.,  received  a  gunshot  wound  over  the 
right  ear,  which  confined  him  in  the  hospital  three 
months.  After  his  return  from  the  war  he  resumed 
farming,  and  in  1870  settled  on  his  present  estate, 
which  contains  220  acres  of  valuable  land.  In 
conducting  his  farm  Mr.  Grimes  gives  special  at- 
tention to  stock-raising. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grimes  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  and  experienced  a  deep  sense 
of  loss  in  the  death  of  two.  William  H.,  their  first 


COLES   COUNTY. 


541 


horn,  died  at  the  dawn  of  manhood,  and  the  next 
child,  a  daughter,  died  in  childhood.  Those  now 
living  are — -Loren  K.,  John  A.,  Andrew  R.,  George 
F.,  Charles  J.,  and  an  infant  daughter. 

Mr.  Grimes  is  upright  and  honorable  in  all  of 
his  business  dealings.  He  has  never  tasted  a  drop 
of  intoxicating  liquor  in  his  life,  and  his  energy 
and  industry  have  met  with  the  success  which  usu- 
ally attends  the  exercise  of  such  qualities,  when 
accompanied  with  temperate  habits,  and  integrity  of 
character.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  since  1860  and  is  a  Ruling  Elder  in 
the  same.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and 
has  served  six  years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


OUIS  W.  M.  PFEIFER,  the  owner  of  a  fine 
stock  farm,  a  view  of  which  appears  on  an- 
other  page,  resides  on  section  20,  Seven 
Hickory  Township.  He  was  born  Dec.  14,  1833, 
in  Saxony,  Germany,-  and  is  the  son  of  Bernhardt 
and  Barbara  (Bock)  Pfeifer.  Bernhardt  Pfeifer  was 
born  April  5,  1801.  There  were  but  two  children 
in  his  parents'  family,  himself  and  his  brother  Will- 
iam. The  latter  married  and  had  five  children. 
Bernhardt  married  Miss  Barbara  Bock  in  1824- 
They  lived  in  Germany  until  1868,  and  then  left 
their  native  land  to  visit  their  children,  some  of 
whom  had  come  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 
Coles  County  several  years  previous.  Two  years 
after  their  arrival  in  America,  Mrs.  Pfeifer  died  in 
Arcola  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  who  accom- 
panied them  from  Germany,  and  a  few  years  after 
the  death  of  his  wife  Mr.  Pfeifer  returned  to  Ger- 
many. After  remaining  there  about  a  year  he  re- 
turned to  Illinois,  and  passed  the  closing  years  of 
his  life  with  his  son,  George  M.  Pfeifer.  His  death 
occurred  in  February,  1880. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  twelve  children, 
four  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  record  of 
those  remaining  is  as  follows:  Casper,  born  Oct.  5, 
1827.  resides  in  Germany,  and  has  a  large  family 
of  children  and  grandchildren;  Louis  W.  M.  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Mary  K.,  bora  in  1836,  is  the 
wife  of  Carl  Tuein,  a  resident  of  this  county,  and 
the  mother  of  a  large  family  of  children;  Michael, 


born  in  1838,  was  twice  married,  and  has  a  family 
of  two  children  by  his  first  wife;  Edward,  born  in 
1840,  resides  in  Germany,  and  has  a  family  of  five 
children;  Dorothea,  born  in  1843,  was  the  wife  of 
Julius  Zehner,  and  had  a  family  of  three  children 
— Barbara,  Nina  and  William;  Mrs.  Zehner  died  in 
1874,  when  her  son  was  four  years  of  age,  and  he 
was  then  adopted  by  his  uncle,  George  Pfeifer; 
Barbara  is  married  and  lives  in  Mattoon,  and  Nina, 
since  the  death  of  her  mother,  has  made  her  home 
in  the  family  of  John  J.  Chaney,  in  Humbolt 
Township.  Mr.  Zehner  resides  in  Texas.  Bern- 
bardt  came  to  Illinois,  but  after  remaining  two  years, 
returned  to  Germany ;  he  has  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren. George  M.  is  a  prosperous  farmer  residing 
in  Seven  Hickory  Township. 

Louis  W.  M.  Pfeifer  was  a  printer  in  Germany, 
and  was  engaged  in  a  publishing  office  in  which 
there  were  800  employed  at  printing,  forty  at  stere- 
otyping and  forty  book-binders.  He  had  also 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  when  he  came  to 
Illinois  engaged  in  that  occupation.  On  his  ar- 
rival in  the  United  States  he  spent  some  time  in 
New  Orleans,  then  traveled  in  Mississippi,  and 
finally  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  about 
seven  months.  Desirous  of  thoroughly  investigat- 
ing the  Western  country,  he  extended  his  travels 
to  California,  spending  six  months  there,  stopping 
in  Douglas  and  Coles  Counties,  111.,  on  the  return 
trip. 

In  1857  our  subject  came  to  Arcola,  and  re- 
mained there  until  1862,  when  he  entered  the  army 
in  the  service  of  his  adopted  country,  enlisting  in 
Co.K,  79th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  July,  1862.  His  regi- 
ment was  with  Gen.  Sherman  in  the  campaign 
against  Hood,  and -he  took  part  in  the  five  engage- 
ments preceding  the  final  brilliant  siege  of  At- 
lanta, when  Hood,  surrounded  by  the  masterly  tac- 
tics of  Sherman's  army,  was  obliged  to  evacuate, 
after  first  blowing  up  his  magazines.  He  was  taken 
prisoner  Nov.  30,  1864,  at  the  battle  of  Franklin, 
Tenn.,  and  confined  at  Andersonville,  and  gained 
his  freedom  after  the  assassination  of  President 
Lincoln,  when  all  prisoners  were  released.  While 
undergoing  the  horrors  of  imprisonment  :it  Ander- 
sonville he  contracted  a  disease  which  seriously  im- 
paired his  health,  and -he  now  draws  a  pension  on 


f 


542 


COLES   COUNTY. 


account  of  disability  resulting  from  that  cause.  He 
was  mustered  out  of  service  June  6,  1865,  and  dis- 
charged at  Camp  Butler,  Springfield,  111.,  on  the 
24th  of  the  same  month. 

On  his  return  from  the  war  Mr.  Pfeifer  came  to 
Illinois  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Douglas  Count}', 
remaining  there  one  year.  He  then  came  to  Coles 
County  and  in  the  following  year,  1867,  purchased  his 
first  land  here.  His  entire  estate  contains  325  acres, 
165  of  which  is  located  in  Coles,  and  160  in  Doug- 
las County.  His  land  is  all  of  excellent  quality, 
well  cultivated  and  improved.  He  gives  some  at- 
tention to  raising  graded  stock,  having  about 
twenty  head  of  cattle  and  seven  head  of  horses.  In 
1873  he  erected  his  pleasant  farm  residence,  and  in 
1878  built  a  large  and  well-appointed  barn. 

Mr.  Pfeifer's  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie  R.  Long 
took  place  Feb.  20,  1866,  the  year  following  his  re- 
turn from  the  war.  Mrs.  Pfeifer  was  born  and  edu- 
cated in  Ohio,  and  met  her  future  husband  while 
on  a  visit  to  her  sister,  residing  in  Arcola,  Douglas 
Count}'.  There  were  three  children  in  her  father's 
family,  two  daughters  and  one  son.  Neither  of 
her  parents  are  living,  her  mother  having  died 
when  she  was  an  infant,  and  her  father  in  1878. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pfeifer  have  an  interesting  family  of 
five  children:  Laura,  born  Oct.  5,  1868;  John,  May 
25,  1871 ;  Lawrence,  March  30,  1873;  Ida,  Aug.  12. 
1875;  Elmore,  Feb.  17,  1881.  None  of  the  family 
have  yet  left  the  home  circle.  Mr.  Pfeifer  belongs 
to  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Arcola,  and  the  children 
were  baptized  in  that  faith;  his  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  In  politics  he  a  strong 
Republican. 


eORTEZ  B.  O'HAIR,  an  energetic  young  busi- 
ness man  of  Fair  Grange,  is  of  Irish  descent, 
his  great-grandfather,  Michael  O'Hair,  being 
a  native  of  County  Down,  Ireland,  who  emigrated 
to  America  in  Colonial  times,  and  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
settled  in  Virginia,  and  subsequently  in  Mont- 
gomery County,  Ky.,  where  Michael  O'Hair,  Jr., 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born,  July  10, 
1801.  At  an  early  age  the  latter  moved  to  Mor- 
gan County,  Ky.,  and  was  married,  Nov.  16,  1820, 


to  Miss  Lucre tia  Boyles.  In  October,  1825,  with 
his  wife  and  two  children,  he  made  the  long  and 
wearisome  journey  to  Illinois,  riding  250  miles  on 
horseback.  Upon  the  28th  of  the  same  month, 
with  four  horses,  two  of  them  heavily  laden  with 
pack-saddles,  they  reached  their  journey's  end, 
locating  five  miles  south  of  Paris,  Edgar  County, 
on  a  farm  which  he  owned  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
By  his  energy,  decision  of  character  and  benevo- 
lence, he  soon  became  well  known  to  the  early 
settlers  of  this  county.  He  was  twice  elected 
Sheriff  of  the  county,  and  held  offices  voted  him  by 
the  people  for  over  thirty  years.  He  aided  in 
building  churches,  schools,  and  many  other  valu- 
able improvements.  His  house  was  very  appropri- 
ately styled  the  "Preacher's  Tavern.'' 

Jesse  O'Hair,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
March  28,  1828.  and  was  married,  Jan.  22,  1851, 
to  Miss  Ella  Jane  Swango,  of  HazeJ  Green,  Ky. 
She  was  born  Jan.  8,  1833,  in  Morgan  County, 
Ky.,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Abram  Swango,  and 
grand-daughter  of  Samuel  Swango,  of  Virginia. 
Abram  Swango  was  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  and  a  veteran  of  the  second  war  with  En- 
gland, in  1812.  Jesse  O'Hair  is  one  of  the  oldest 
pioneers  of  Seven  Hickory  Township,  having 
settled  upon  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  June  1, 
1854.  At  that  time  the  prairie  was  one  vast 
wilderness,  and  the  neighbors  were  few  and  many 
miles  apart,  but  here,  on  the  uncultivated  prairie, 
he  built  his  home.  The  household  included  seven 
children,  whose  record  is  as  follows:  Abram  L., 
born  Oct.  18,  1851.  married  Miss  L.  Sketon,  of 
this  county,  and  to  them  have  been  born  three  chil- 
dren— Arley,  Stella  and  Elmer;  W.  C.,  born  Aug. 
16,  1857,  is  at  home  with  his  parents;  Cortez  Boon, 
the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was  born  Jan.  30,  1860; 
Gallic,  born  May  24,  1863,  was  married  to  George 
W.  Gaines,  of  Edgar  County,  Dec.  23,  1884,  and 
departed  this  life.  Aug.  9,  1885;  Ron  E.  was  born 
June  10,  1871;  Stephen  .and  Laura  E.  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  spent 
his  early  years  amidst  the  surroundings  and  dis- 
advantages of  a  new  country.  Notwithstanding 
the  limited  advantages  of  the  pioneer  days  he  ob- 
tained a  fair  education  at  the  district  schools,  and 


f 


COLES    COUNTY. 


543 


completed  his  studies  at  EnBeld  Academy.  He 
then  began  to  prepare  for  the  more  serious  duties 
of  life.  He  remained  under  the  home  roof  until 
he  reached  his  majority,  working  on  a  farm  in 
the  summer  time  and  teaching  school  dur- 
ing the  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1882  he  was 
elected  Town  Clerk  of  Seven  Hickory  Township, 
and  has  since  been  elected  four  times.  May  24, 
1883,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster,  and  besides  his 
official  duties,  Mr.  O'Hair  is  engaged  in  general 
merchandising  and  also  deals  in  grain  and  stock. 

February  26,  1884,  our  subject  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Craig,  Rev.  J.  P. 
Tandy  officiating.  Miss  Craig  was  born  in  this 
county  Jane  20,  1860,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Angeline  (Springer)  Craig,  natives  of 
Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graig  were  the  parents 
of  four  children:  Laura,  wife  of  I.  H.  Patterson, 
was  born  Nov.  8,  1856;  William  R.,  born  April  2, 
1858,  married  Miss  Gertie  Neeld,  of  New  Albany, 
Ind.;  Joseph  Edward,  born  Feb.  13,  1866.  Mr. 
Craig  departed  this  life  in  Coles  County,  Nov.  1 4, 
1866,  and  Mrs.  C.  was  subsequently  married  to 
Joseph  M.  Story,  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  who  died 
Feb.  26,  1882.  By  her  second  husband  there  were 
seven  children — January,  Lucy,  Ernma,  John,  Min- 
nie, Erwin  and  Nellie. 

The  children  of  our  subject  and  wife  are : 
Grover,  born  Jan.  10,  1885,  and  Cleveland,  March 
18,  1886.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  boys  of 
Mr,  O'Hair  'serve  to  perpetuate  the  full  name  of 
the  President,  Grover  Cleveland. 


TEPHEN  EMHUFF  came  to  this  county 
in  the  spring  of  1861,  with  his  family,  with 
a  small  amount  of  money  in  his  pocket,  and 
purchased  a  tract  of  railroad  land  on  time,  in  Seven 
Hickory  Township.  Since  then  he  has  labored  in- 
dustriously to  build  up  a  homestead,  and  when  we 
contemplate  the  fact  that  he  is  now  the  possessor  of 
292  broad  acres  under  a  good  state  of  improve- 
ment, well  stocked,  and  furnished  with  a  substantial 
set  of  farm  buildings,  we  must  admit  that  he  has 
succeeded  most  admirably  in  his  undertaking.  He 


has  one  of  the  finest  dwellings  on  section  33,  and 
the  adjacent  out-buildings  correspond  with  the  resi- 
dence. The  farm  machinery  is  of  that  character 
employed  by  the  modern  and  progressive  agricult- 
urist, and  everything  about  the  premises  indicates 
the  good  management  of  its  proprietor. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Silver  Creek  Township, 
Clark*  Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.  18,  1826,  and  is  the  son  of 
Elijah  and  Hila  (Allen)  Emiiuff,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  New  York  State. 
They  were  married  about  1820,  in  Clark  County, 
Ind.,  where  they  had  both  moved  with  their  parents 
while  single,  during  the  pioneer  days.  Our  sub- 
ject remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  reach- 
ing his  majority,  then  going  into  Kock  Island  Coun- 
ty. 111.,  was  there  engaged  five  years  in  farming. 
He  then  returned  to  his  native  State,  settling  in 
Sullivan  County,  where  he  was  similarly  employed 
six  years,  then  came  to  Coles  County,  of  which  he 
has  since  been  a  resident.  He  had  received  but  a 
limited  education,  but  made  the  most  of  his  advan- 
tages and  kept  his  eyes  open  to  what  was  going  on 
around  him. 

While  a  resident  of  Clark  County,  Ind.,  Mr.  Em- 
huff  was  married,  April  3,  1851,  to  Miss  Martha 
Wilson,  a  native  of  his  own  county,  and  the  daughter 
of  John  and  Margaret  (Jackson)  Wilson.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  the  parental 
household  included  twelve  children,  six  now  living 
and  six  deceased.  The  latter  are  Harvey,  Thomas, 
William,  John,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy. 
Those  surviving  "are  Rhoda  Charlotte,  Deliah,  Ruth, 
Levi,  Martha  and  Dorcas.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Emhuff  were  as  follows :  Emily,  born  in 
Rock  Island  County,  111.,  1853,  became  the  wife  of 
Albert  McCallister,  and  is  living  in  Madison  County, 
Ind.;  her  two  children  were  born  in  Coles  County, 
and  are  still  living.  William,  born  in  Crawford 
County,  Ind.,  in  1855,  married  Miss  Frances  Jef- 
fers,  of  the  same  State,  and  they  are  living  on  the 
old  homestead  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emhuff;  they 
have  no  children.  Margaret,  born  in  Sullivan 
County,  Ind.,  in  1861,  became  the  wife  of  James 
B.  Toland,  and  lives  in  Coles  County;  she  has  be- 
come the  mother  of  two  children,  one  living.  Leroy, 
born  in  Sullivan  County,  Ind.,  in  1858,  is  an  in- 
valid, and  remains  at  home  with  his  parents.  Withi 


544 


COLES   COUNTY. 


the  exception  of  this  son  the  family  are  all  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  E.  votes  the 
straight  Democratic  ticket,  and  may  in  all  respects 
be  termed  an  honest  man  and  a  good  citizen. 

Elijah  Emhuff,  the  father  of  our  subject,  departed 
this  life  at  his  home  in  Clark  County,  lud.,  in  the 
spring  of  1 865.  The  mother  had  preceded  her  hus- 
band to  the  other  life,  her  death  taking  place  from 
cholera  in  about  1851.  The  parental  household 
included  twelve  children,  of  whom  four  only  are 
supposed  to  be  living.  They  were  named  respect- 
ively, Elizabeth.  Andrew  J.,  Stephen,  Lametta, 
Manley,  Amanda,  Lucy,  Winchester,  Calista,  Nancy, 
Archibald,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 


JOHN  CHILDRESS,  a  retired  farmer  and  res- 
ident of  the  village  of  Ashmore,  is  num- 
bered among  the  honored  pioneers  of  this 
'  State,  to  which  he  came  from  Alabama,  in 
1831,  with  his  parents.  They  located  on  the  State 
line  between  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  a  few  years 
later  came  to  this  county,  where  our  subject  has 
since  remained.  He  has  watched  with  intense  in- 
terest the  development  and  progress  of  the  Prairie 
State,  and  by  his  industry  and  enterprise  has  con- 
tributed his  full  quota  toward  the  development  of 
its  agricultural  resources. 

Mr.  Childress  was  born  in  Alabama,  Nov.  10, 
1821,  and  is  the  son  of  Richard  and  Rebecca 
(White)  Childress,  the  father  a  native  of  Alabama 
and  the  mother  born  in  Tennessee,  in  1801.  Rich- 
ard Childress.  who  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  departed  this  life  at  the  homestead  in 
Coles  County,  111.,  in  1867.  The  mother  died  in 
Ashmore,  Sept.  2.  1887.  Her  second  husband  was 
James  D.  White,  who  died  in  Ashmore,  Aug.  10, 
1887. 

John  Childress  was  the  eldest  of  his  father's 
family,  and  was  reared  to  farming  pursuits,  receiv- 
ing a  limited  education.  He  remained  under  the 
home  roof  until  reaching  manhood,  and  was  first 
married  to  Miss  Catherine  Hogue,  a  native  of  Ed- 
gar County,  111.,  and  born  the  same  year  as  her 
husband,  1821.  She  departed  this  life  at  the  home 
of  hor  husband  in  Ashmore,  this  county,  March  14, 


1884.  after  having  become  the  mother  of  a  large 
family  of  children,  five  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Their  names  are  as  follows:  Newton,  James  M., 
Margaret,  Isaac,  Emma,  William,  Annie,  Charles 
F.,  Martha,  Addie,  Mary,  Catherine  and  John. 

For  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Childress  married  Mrs. 
Lucinda  (Medley)  Chisler,  July  15,  1884.  This 
lady  was  born  in  Knox  County,  Ind.,  Feb.  11, 
1834,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rachel 
(Steward)  Medley,  natives  of  Kentucky.  Joseph 
Medley  was  born  in  1781,  and  died  Sept.  14,  1872, 
or  1873.  He  followed  farming  the  greater  part  of 
his  life,  and  was  a  man  of  excellent  education, 
holding  a  good  position  in  his  communit3~,  and  be- 
ing prominently-  connected  with  the  Baptist  Church. 
The  wife  and  mother,  a  lady  of  much  personal 
beauty,  was  born  in  1783,  and  died  of  consump- 
tion, March  15,  1854,  at  her  home  in  Vigo  County, 
Ind.  She  also  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
The  seven  children  of  the  parental  household  were 
Cynthia  A.,  Samuel,  John,  George  W.,  Sarah,  Mar- 
tha and  Lucinda.  Mr.  Medley  was  married  the 
second  time,  to  a  widow  by  the  name  of  Waldon, 
and  they  had  one  son,  James.  This  lady  died 
about  twenty-nine  years  ago. 

The  first  husband  of  Mrs.  Childress,  Frederick 
Chisler  by  name,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
bora  in  1824,  and  a  prominent  man  in  his  town- 
ship, where  he  held  its  various  offices.  He  came 
to  this  State  in  I860,  taking  up  his  residence  in 
Clark  County,  where  he  remained  until  his  death. 
They  were  the  parents  of  two  children — Joseph, 
who  is  farming  in  Clark  County,  and  Charles  N., 
pursuing  the  same  occupation  in  this  county.  The 
latter  married  Miss  Mary  Morton,  and  they  have 
three  children.  Mrs.  Childress  adopted  three  chil- 
dren, one  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  one  five  3'ears, 
and  one  she  took  when  nine  days  old.  The  two 
boys  are  now  married,  and  the  girl,  Minnie  Berry, 
remains  with  her. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Childress  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  in  which  our  subject  has  served 
as  an  Elder  for  many  years.  He  has  held  the  va- 
rious offices  of  his  township,  and  in  all  respects  has 
been  one  of  its  most  enterprising  and  reliable  citi- 
zens. He  has  been  the  encourager  and  supporter 
of  every  enterprise  calculated  to  benefit  his  fellow- 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


545 


citizens,  and  has  been  closely  identified  with  the 
business  and  agricultural  interests  of  this  section 
since  first  coming  here.  His  natural  abilities  qual- 
ified him  early  in  life  to  assume  grave  responsibili- 
ties, and  for  seven  years  he  was  engaged  as  a  stock- 
dealer  in  the  interests  of  Jacob  D.  Early,  of  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  handling  large  suras  of  money,  and 
one  year  paid  out  $80,000. 

The  property  of  Mr.  Childress  includes  700  acres 
of  some  of  the  finest  land  in  Coles  County.  The 
farm  buildings  are  of  the  best  quality,  and  con- 
veniently arranged  for  the  storing  of  grain  and  the 
shelter  of  stock.  The  fences  and  machinery  are 
kept  in  good  repair,  and  the  whole  premises  indi- 
cate the  supervision  of  the  intelligent  and  progres- 
sive agriculturist.  Mr.  Childress  also  owns  his 
town  residence,  which  is  pleasantly  located,  and 
where  he  is  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life, 
and  enjoys  in  a  marked  degree  the  esteem  of  his 
fellow-townsmen. 


eLARK  ELK  IN,  farmer  and  carpenter,  is 
pursuing  the  even  tenor  of  his  way  as  a 
thrifty  and  industrious  citizen,  making  his 
headquarters  at  a  snug  homestead  on  section  4,  in 
Humbolt  Township.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
Illinois  for  over  twenty  years,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years,  has  spent  his  time  mostly  in 
Coles  County.  He  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the 
light  in  Kenawha  County,  Va.,  011  the  8th  of  May, 
1832,  and  was  the  fifth  in  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, the  offspring  of  Edley  and..  Frances  (Toney) 
Elldn,  also  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Richard 
Elkin  by  name,  wa»  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a 
native  of  the  eastern  part  of  Virginia.  The  mother 
of  our  subject,  who  in  her  girlhood  was  Miss  Frances 
Toney,  was  the  daughter  of  Poindexter  and  F  ranees 
Jane  (Lilley)  Toney,  who  were  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  the  Old  Dominion.  Grand  father  Toney 
was  also  a  farmer,  and  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 
They  settled  in  Kanawha  County  while  it  was  a 
wilderness,  reared  a  family,  and  built  up  a  com- 
fortable homestead. 

The  subject  of  this  history   learned  the   carpen- 


ter's trade  at  an  early  age,  and  after  reaching  his 
majority,  left  the  parental  roof  to  care  for  himself. 
He  first  began  farming  on  a  portion  of  his  father's 
land,  and  not  long  after  his  twenty-first  birthday 
was  married,  Dec.  1,  1853,  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  the 
third  child  in  a  family  of  eleven,  the  offspring  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  (Kinder)  Barker,  natives  of 
Virginia.  Mr.  B.  engaged  in  farming  in  Kanawha, 
where  he  still  resides,  being  about  eighty-six  years 
old.  Mr.  Elkin  lived  ten  years  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  after  the  outbreak  of  the  late  Civil  War,  enlisted 
Feb.  11,  1862,  in  Co.  G,  llth  W.  Va.  Vol.  Inf., 
under  command  of  Capt.  Young.  He  was  mustered 
in  at  Colesmoutli,  now  St.  Albans,  and  first  detailed 
to  detached  duty  in  the  Kenawha  Valley,  where  he 
remained  with  his  regiment  nearly  two  years,  but 
aside  from  a  skirmish  now  and  then  \\itii  the  enemy, 
saw  little  of  the  darker  side  of  war.  Afterward 
the  regiment  was  assigned  to  Cook's  command,  and 
went  southwest  to  capture  the  Tennessee  &  Vir- 
ginia Railroad.  During  this  raid  our  subject  with 
his  comrades  was  engaged  in  several  important  bat- 
tles, and  subsequently  went  to  the  Shcnandoah 
Valley  and  remained  with  the  command  of  Gen. 
Sheridan  from  June  until  September.  In  the  mean- 
time occurred  the  battle  of  Winchester,  and  other 
important  engagements  with  the  enemy. 

Mr.  Elkin,  after  the  term  of  his  first  enlistment 
had  expired,  re-entered  the  ranks  and  was  promoted 
from  private  through  the  intermediate  grades  to 
First  Lieutenant.  He  served  in  this  capacity  until 
his  honorable  discharge  in  February,  1865,  being 
compelled  to  leave  the  scene  of  conflict  on  account 
of  ill-health,  brought  on  by  exposure  and  hardship. 
Returning  to  his  home  in  West  Virginia  he  re- 
mained until  April  following,  then  eaine  North  with 
his  family,  and  located  first  at  Tuscola,  Douglas 
County,  where  he  followed  carpentering  and  build- 
ing for  two  years.  In  1867  he  came  to  Humbolt 
Township,  and  purchased  his  home  place  in  the 
village  of  Humbolt. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elkin  became  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  seven  now  living,  namely,  Dryden  P., 
born  July  4,  1855;  Frances  E.,  June  11,  185'J: 
John  C.,  Aug.  14,  1862;  Mary  J.,  Nov.  15,  1866; 
James  E.,  Jan.  14,  1871 ;  George  T.,  Oct.  10,  1872, 
and  Dora  E.,  Oct.  20,  1875.  Those  deceased  are 


COLES   COUNTY. 


i 


Edward  I.,  who  died  in  infancy;  Charles,  Benjamin, 
and  Edward.  Frances  became  the  wife  of  R.  B. 
Finch,  a  farmer,  and  a  resident  of  Humbolt  Town- 
ship, but  who  is  now  deceased;  she  is  living  in 
Humbolt;  Mary  married  John  McWilliams,  a  far- 
mer of  Humbolt  Township;  the  others  are  at  home 
with  their  parents.  Mr.  Elkin  has  given  his  chil- 
dren the  advantages  of  as  good  an  education  as  his 
means  would  justify,  and  fitted  them  to  take  their 
rightful  position  in  an  intelligent  community.  With 
his  estimable  wife  and  children  he  is  a  member  and 
regular  attendant  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Humbolt.  in  which  he  officiates  as  Trus- 
tee. Politically  he  uniformly  votes  with  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  was  elected  Police  -Magistrate 
in  1885,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  has  since  dis- 
charged with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
all  concerned. 


'DOLF  SUMERLIN,  the  accomplished 
y/j\\  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Commercial, 

is  one  of   the  leading  citizens  of  Mattoon. 

He  was  born  Aug.  24,  1851,  in  Keosauqua, 
Van  Buren  Co.,  Iowa,  and  is  the  son  of  Rufus  and 
Isabell  A.  (McBride)  Sumerlin,  the  former  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
The  parents  of  Rufus  Sumerlin  removed  in  1836  to 
Van  Buren  Count}',  Iowa,  and  on  Nov.  16,  1850, 
his  marriage  took  place  in  Keosauqua,  his  wife's 
family  having  likewise  settled  there,  at  nearly  the 
same  period.  He  was  there  taught  the  printer's  trade 
and  ultimately  purchased  the  Democratic  Union,  the 
paper  upon  which  he  had  worked  as  an  apprentice. 
He  continued  the  publication  of  that  journal  about 
three  years,  and  in  1856  removed  with  his  family 
to  Scotland  County,  Mo.  After  remaining  there 
until  1859,  engaged  in  farming,  he  moved  to  Mem- 
phis, and  resuming  his  former  business,  established 
a  paper  called  the  Memphis  Democrat,  subsequently 
edited  under  the  name  of  the  Memphis  Dispatch. 
During  the  war,  his  printing-office  was  seized  by 
the  Union  troops,  who  took  possession  of  the  ma- 
terials, and  took  them  into  camp  for  the  use  of  Col. 
Moore,  for  regimental  work,  but  in  1864  they  were 


restored,  and  the  business  was  purchased  by  a  syn- 
dicate, and  Mr.  Sumerlin  resumed  the  mangement 
of  the  paper,  and  continued  its  publication  until 
1865.  He  then  removed  to  Shelby  ville,  111.,  and  pur- 
chased the  SIteUty  County  Leader,  of  W.  A.  Trower, 
which  he  published  until  1870,  when  it  was  re- 
purchased by  Mr.  Trower,  who  has  since  retained 
its  management.  Mr.  Sumerlin  then  changed  his 
place  of  residence  to  Springfield,  Mo.,  and  there 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  Springfield  Leader. 
After  remaining  there  two  years  he  came  to  Mat- 
toon,  and  finding  that  the  only  paper  representing 
the  Democratic  party  had  been  suspended  for  about 
two  months,  he  purchased  it,  and  assumed  the 
editorial  management,  associated  with  his  son, 
Adolf.  The  first  issue  of  the  Commercial,  under 
the  control  of  Sumerlin  &  Son,  appeared  Oct.  3, 
1872. 

As  all  previous  efforts  to  establish  a  Democratic 
paper  in  Mattoon  had  failed,  it  was  the  general  pre- 
diction that  the  Commercial  could  not  possibly  suc- 
ceed. However,  in  the  face  of  many  discouraging 
obstacles,  they  undertook  the  hazardous  enterprise, 
and  after  the  first  year  of  ceaseless  toil,  it  became  an 
acknowledged  fact  that,  with  economy  and  proper 
management,  it  was  possible  to  maintain  success- 
ful^ a  Democratic  paper  in  a  Republican  strong- 
hold. Mr.  Sumerlin  and  his  son  continued  the 
publication  of  the  paper  in  partnership  until  1876, 
when  Mr.  Sumerlin  sold  his  interest  in  the  business 
to  his  son.  Feeling  that  a  change  of  climate  would 
prove  beneficial  to  his  health  he  moved  to  Florida, 
and  there  engaged  in  orange  culture  and  farming. 
He  remained  there  until  1883,  and  then  came  to 
Toledo,  111.,  where,  associated  with  his  son,  Leon, 
he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Cumberland  Demo- 
crat. In  1885  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  paper  to 
his  son,  having  been  appointed  Postmaster  at  To- 
ledo by  President  Cleveland,  which  position  he  now 
holds.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rufus  Sumerlin  had  a  family 
of  ten  children,  whose  names  are — Adolf,  Eugene, 
Lelia.  Leon,  Carrie,  Rufus,  William  D.,  Orville,  Guy 
and  Annie  E.  Eugene  and  Rufus  are  both  dead. 

Adolf  Sumerlin  commenced  learning  the  printer's 
trade  when  nine  years  of  age,  and  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  was  intrusted  by  his  father  with  the 
mechanical  department  of  his  publishing  office. 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


547 


The  following  year  he  assumed  local  and  editorial 
control  of  the  Shelby  County  Leader,  and  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  delivered  his  maiden  speech  at  Roundy's 
Hall.  The  law  was  his  chosen  profession,  which  he 
then  commenced  reading  with  Messrs.  Thornton  & 
Hall.  In  1870  he  moved  to  Springfield,  Mo.,  and 
finished  his  course  of  reading  with  Gov.  John  S. 
Phelps.  He  applied  himself  closely  to  study,  and 
after  passing  an  examination  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  was  licensed  to  practice  law  in  the  Supreme 
Courts  of  Illinois,  Missouri  and  California.  After 
engaging  in  the  practice  of  law  for  some  time,  he 
came  to  Mattoon,  111.,  arriving  in  August,  1872. 
Circumstances  then  led  him  to  engage  in  the  publi- 
cation of  the  Commercial,  associated  with  his  father, 
and  when  he  purchased  his  father's  interest  in  the 
paper  in  1876  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  bor- 
row money  for  that  purpose.  The  amount  requisite 
was  obtained  on  one  year's  time,  with  the  positive 
promise  of  its  renewal  at  the  end  of  the  year,  but 
when  the  time  for  payment  came,  the  note  was  sued 
and  judgment  obtained.  All  efforts  to  borrow  the 
necessary  amount  were  unsuccessful,  although  the 
best  of  security  was  offered.  In  the  autumn  of 
1877  he  went  to  California,  in  the  hope  of  obtain- 
ing assistance  from  a  relative  residing  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, but  failing  to  realize  his  anticipations  in  that 
respect,  he  remained  there  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  in  Oakland,  and  was  laying  the 
foundation  for  future  success  in  that  profession, 
when  word  reached  him  that  arrangements  had  been 
made  whereby  all  the  time  necessary  would  be 
given  to  pay  off  the  judgment  and  costs.  In  the 
meantime  the  office  had  been  seized  by  the  sheriff 
and  was  offered  to  G.  E.  Mason  on  condition  that 
he  would  assume  the  obligations,  which  proffer  he 
declined.  On  receiving  this  news,  Mr.  Sumerlin 
decided  to  relinquish  his  flattering  prospects  in  Cali- 
fornia, and  returned  to  Mattoon,  again  assuming 
the  entire  management  of  the  Commercial.  At  the 
close  of  two  years  he  had  cancelled  the  judgment, 
interest  and  costs,  and  all  claims  against  the  office 
and  himself  personally  were  paid  to  the  last  cent. 
On  Oct.  15,  1878,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy 
Townley,  a  native  of  Moultrie  County,  111. 

Mattoon  Township  is  Republican  by  200  major- 
ity, but  in  1879  Mr.  Sumerlin  was  elected  Assistant 

-*• 


Supervisor  by  250  majority.  The  following  year 
he  was  defeated  by  W.  H.  Lewis  by  eleven  votes. 
As  candidate  for  the  Legislature  in  1882  he  carried 
the  county  by  197  majority  over  Ewing.  He  was 
elected  Supervisor  over  T.  P.  C.  Lane  by  170  ma- 
jority in  1884,  and  the  following  year  was  re-elected 
by  a  majority  of  sixteen.  In  1884  he  was  elected 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  re- 
elected  the  following  year.  As  an  impartial  Chair- 
man he  gained  the  respect  of  every  member  of  the 
respective  Boards,  and  in  discharging  the  duties  of 
his  various  official  positions  won  the  esteem  of  all  his 
colleagues.  The  only  fault  with  which  he  was  ever 
charged  was  that  of  showing  too  much  liberality  to 
the  poor,  yet  in  every  instance  where  assistance 
was  given,  it  was  proved  to  have  been  judiciously 
done,  and  the  relief  afforded  to  have  been  an  abso- 
lute necessity  to  the  recipients.  He  never  exercised 
generosity  for  display  or  political  effect,  and  by  his 
careful  investigation  of  every  applicant  for  aid,  the 
county  was  protected  from  imposition,  and  the 
worthy,  who  were  in  distress,  received  the  assistance 
necessary.  June  28,  1886,  he  was  a  candidate  for 
the  office  of  County  Judge,  and  was  defeated  by  his 
opponent  by  a  majority  of  120,  in  a  total  vote  of 
6,180. 

That  Mr.  Su merlin  has  made  a  wise  disposition 
of  his  time  and  talents  may  be  judged  by  the 
amount  and  quality  of  the  work  performed.  He  is 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  every  branch  of  the 
mechanical  department  of  a  printing-office,  and  as 
an  editor  and  business  manager  has  met  with  ap- 
proval and  success.  During  a  residence  of  fourteen 
years  in  this  county,  so  universally  honorable  have 
been  his  dealings  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  that  he 
has  won  encouragement  and  appreciation  in  both 
business  and  social  circles.  Aside  from  what  he  has 
accomplished  in  the  wide  field  of  journalism  and 
law,  he  has  found  time  to  take  an  active  part  in 
conventions  and  every  political  campaign.  He  is 
interested  in  all  the  social  and  political  proulems  of 
the  day,  and  in  his  newspaper  and  speeches  has  ad- 
vocated the  freedom  of  labor  from  the  environments 
which  have  been  woven  around  it  by  shrewd 
schemers,  designing  politicians,  and  soulless  corpora- 
tions. He  abhors  chicanery  and  detests  intrigue. 
The  lectures  lie  has  prepared  upon  various  topics 


548 


COLES   COUNTY. 


have  been  highly  commended  by  competent  judges. 
Mr.  Sumerlin  is  a  member  of  several  secret 
orders.  He  has  passed  through  the  chairs  of  Har- 
mony Lodge  No.  551,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  represented 
that  body  in  the  Grand  Lodge;  for  three  years  he 
has  been  Master  of  Circle  Lodge  No.  707,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  is  Eminent  Commander  of  Godfrey 
de  Bouillon  Commanclery  No.  44,  K.  T.,  stationed 
at  Mattoon,  111. 


<i|?OHN  RANK1N,  a  farmer  and  stock-grower, 
I  residing  on  section  24,  .Seven  Hickory 
Township,  was  born  Nov.  25,  1832,  in  Floyd 
County.,  Ind.,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert  and 
Maria  (Taylor)  Kankin,  the  former  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  and  the  latter  of  Indiana.  'Mrs. 
Rankin  died  when  John  was  about  two  years  old, 
leaving  a  family  of  three  children,  all  of  whom  are 
now  living:  Thomas,  a  farmer  residing  in  Floyd 
County,  Ind.,  where  he  was  born,  has  a  family  of 
four  children;  John,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
Elizabeth  Jane,  the  wife  of  A.  J.  Stephenson,  a' 
brickmolder,  residing  in  Hendricks  County,  Ind. 
They  have  one  child. 

Robert  Ratikin  was  thrice  married.  His  second 
wife  was  Miss  Clarinda  Matherly,  and  by  this  mar- 
riage three  children  were  likewise  born,  two  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Mr.  Rankin's  last  marriage 
was  with  Miss  Rachel  Knight,  who  became  the 
mother  of  one  child.  Mr.  Rankin  is  still  living  in 
Floyd  County,  Ind.,  and  is  over  fourscore  years  of 
age.  In  his  younger  life  he  possessed  excellent 
business  qualifications,  and  was  one  of  the  leading 
men  in  the  community  where  he  resided.  He  lived 
in  the  early  days  when  educational  privileges  were 
very  limited,  and  did  not  entertain  a  high  opinion 
of  book-learning,  giving  his  time  and  strength  to 
hard  work,  regarding  that  as  the  most  important 
factor  of  life,  and  bringing  his  children  up  accord- 
ingly. 

John  Rankin  left  home  when  fifteen  years  of  age, 
and  found  employment  at  teaming,  assisting  his 
father  with  his  earnings  until  he  was  twenty-one, 
iilthough  lie  did  not  live  at  home.  He  had  no 
school  advantages  whatever,  and  this  privation  has 


been  a  source  of  keen  regret  to  him  throughout 
life.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Roberts.  Mrs.  Rankin  was  born  in 
Washington  County,  Ind,,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Rachel  (Kenoyer)  Roberts,  the  former  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Mr. 
Roberts'  family  removed  to  Kentucky  when  he  was 
a  child,  and  after  his  marriage  he  went  to  Indiana. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts'  family  consisted  of  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rankin  had  a  famity  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  of  whom  Mary,  Mintie  and 
Emma  died  in  infancy  ;  Richard,  a  resident  of  Mor- 
gan Township,  married  Miss  Mary  K.  Steff,  and 
has  one  child ;  Arthur  and  Nettie  reside  at  home. 
The  three  latter  were  born  in  this  county.  Mr. 
Rankin  takes  great  interest  in  the  education  of  his 
children,  having  felt  so  deeply  his  own  lack  of 
privileges  in  that  respect.  In  his  bo3'hood  he  al- 
ways desired  to  study  and  acquire  knowledge,  but 
neither  the  time  nor  opportunity  were  afforded  him 
for  that  purpose,  and  it  is  now  his  especial  en- 
deavor to  give  his  children  all  the  advantages 
within  his  reach. 

Mr.  Raukin  came  to  Coles  County  in  1862,  and 
settled  in  Seven  Hickory  Township,  working  on 
rented  land  until  about  1882,  when  he  bought  forty 
acres  of  excellent  well-improved  land,  where  he 
now  resides,  and  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  has  contended  with,  and  success- 
fully overcome,  many  obstacles  in  life,  working  his 
way  steadily  upward.  In  politics  Mr.  Rankin  al- 
ways votes  with  the  Republican  party. 


-iwjAMES  M.  HALL  is  the  proprietor  of  100 
acres  of  good  land  on  section  3G,  in  Hutton 
Township,  with  a  dwelling  picturesquely 
located  on  the  banks  of  the  Embarras 

•cy—^x 

River  about  four  miles  southeast  of  Charleston. 
His  early  years  were  spent  in  Breckinridge  County, 
Ky.,  where  his  birth  took  place  Feb.  2,  1 833,  and 
he  came  to  this  county  when  a  young  man  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  He  had  remained  with  his 
parents  during  these  years,  working  on  the  farm 
mid  receiving  no  schooling  whatever.  He  may 


COLES  COUNTV. 


549    ,  . 


thus  be  properly  styled  a  self-made  man,  for  he  has 
taken  advantage  of  every  opportunity  to  improve 
his  mind,  and  bears  fair  comparison  with  the  in- 
telligent and  progressive  men  around  him. 

Sylvester  Hall,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  whence  he  removed  first 
to  Nelson  County,  Ky.,  and  afterward  to  Breck- 
inridge County.  In  the  latter  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  laud,  where  he  built  up  a  comfortable 
homestead  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  had  married  Miss  Mary  Hall,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing-named children :  Preston,  Michael,  Frances, 
Betsey,  Mary,  Susan,  Sarah,  Margaret,  Powell. 
William,  Edward,  Jane  and  James.  The  grand- 
mother also  died  at  the  homestead  in  Breckinridge 
County,  Ky. 

Among  the  sons  of  Sylvester  and  Mary  Hall  was 
William,  who  became  the  father  of  our  subject. 
He  was  born  in  Breckinridge  County,  Ky.,  and 
made  his  home  with  his  parents  until  kis  marriage, 
receiving  a  common-school  education.  The  maiden 
of  his  choice  was  Miss  Frances,  the  daughter  of 
William  and  Lucy  (Stone)  Gannaway,  natives  of 
the  Old  Dominion,  who  emigrated  to  Breckinridge 
County,  Ky.,  during  its  early  settlement.  After 
his  marriage  William  Hall  entered  a  tract  of  land 
in  his  native  county,  where  he  followed  farming 
about  eighteen  years  and  in  the  meantime  studied 
medicine,  becoming  a  successful  practitioner.  He 
followed  his  profession  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  in  1877.  Both  parents  were  active  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  mother 
departed  this  life  in  1842.  Their  nine  children 
were,  Thomas  J.,  Christian,  William  S. ;  James  M., 
of  our  sketch;  Christopher  C.,  Mary,  Henry  H., 
Lucy  V.  and  Martha  G.  Lucy  and  Christopher  are 
the  only  ones  living  besides  our  subject.  The 
former  is  the  wife  of  George  Allgood,  and  they 
are  residents  of  Breckiuridge  County,  Ky. 

After  coming  to  this  county  our  subject  worked 
as  a  farm  laborer  for  about  three  years,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  this  time  was  married,  Dec.  24,  1857, 
to  Miss  Nancy  Hall,  who  was  born  in  Coles  County, 
June  4,  1842.  Her  parents,  Michael  and  Milly 
(Glasscock)  Hall,  were  natives  respectively  of 
Fairfax  County,  Va.,  and  Breckiuridge  County, 


Ky.  Michael  .Hall  was  born  April  5.  1799,  and 
his  wife,  Milly,  May  13,  1803.  They  were  married 
Aug.  2,  1821,  and  became  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, namely,  John  P.,  Eliza  J.,  James,  all  de- 
ceased; Amanda  M.;  Cordelia  A.,  Mary  and  Min- 
erva, deceased ;  Lucinda,  Wade  and  Nancy. 
Wade  served  as  a  Union  soldier  in  the  late  war,  be- 
longing to  the  123d  Illinois  Infantry.  He  enlisted 
for  three  years,  on  during  the  war,  and  died  at 
Munfordville,  Ky.,  in  December,  1863. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hall  carried  on  the  farm 
of  his  father-in-law  seven  years.  At  the  death  of 
the  latter  Mrs.  H.  inherited  sixty  acres,  and  with 
the  forty  that  Mr.  Hall  already  owned  they  now 
have  one  of  the  most  comfortable  homesteads  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  Coles  County.  Of  their  mar- 
riage there  have  been  the  following  children : 
Lucinda  E.,  born  Oct.  14,  1858,  and  married  Aug. 
15,  1875,  to  Monroe  Edwards,  of  Coles  County; 
William  W.,  who  was  born  Dec.  7,  1860,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  M.  Bughers,  now  deceased;  Mary  Jane, 
born  Sept.  30,  1862,  and  the  wife  of  William  E. 
Waltrip,  of  this  county;  Amanda  M.,  born  Aug. 
26,  1864,  and  the  wife  of  John  Neese,  also  of  this 
county;  Milly  F.,  who  was  born  Jan.  1,  1867, 
married  William  Gillfinlen,  and  died  at  the  home 
'of  her  husband,  March  11,  1883;  Nancy  A.,  born 
Jan.  1,  1869,  died  July  4,  1872;  Emma  E.,  born 
March  12,  1871,  died  the  following  September; 
Catherine  R.  B'.,  born  Nov.  23,  1872;  Sarah  L., 
Nov.  14,  1874;  James  S.,  Sept  12,  1877;  Alice  E., 
July  17,  1880,  and  Daisy  O.  Z.,  Sept.  9,  1883. 

Mr.  Hall  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  since  exercising  the  right  of 
suffrage  has  uniformly  supported  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party. 


GEORGE  SANDOE,  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  God  at  Charleston,  is  a  native 
of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  bom  Dec.  31, 
1826.  and  the  son  of  Adam  and  Nancy 
(Moore)  Sandoe,  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  State, 
where  the  father  followed  milling  all  his  life.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  George  Sandoe 
by  name,  was  a  native  of  France,  and  emigrated  to 


I 


t  ,   550 


COLES   COUNTY. 


America  in  1750,  settling  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia  River,  in  this  State,  among  the  French  colo- 
nists, a  history  of  whom  is  closely  interwoven  with 
that  of  tbre  southern  part  of  Illinois.  He  finally 
returned  East  to  Pennsylvania,  where  his  death 
took  place  in  about  1825. 

Of  the  nine  children  born  to  Adam  and  Nancy 
Sandoe,  seven  are  now  living,  namely,  Barbara, 
Mrs.  C.  Doble;  George,  of  our  sketch;  Mary,  Mrs. 
Buckwalter;  Hannah,  Mrs.  Simons;  Keziah;  Eliza- 
beth. Mrs.  High,  and  Sarah.  The  wife  and  mother 
departed  this  life  at  the  family  residence,  in  1845. 
Adam  Sandoe  survived  until  the  spring  of  1858, 
and  then  joined  his  life  companion  on  the  other 
shore.  He  never  united  with  any  religious  denom- 
ination, although  a  believer  in  Christianity.  The 
mother  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  spent  his  boyhood 
days  on  a  farm,  and  also  worked  in  the  mill  about 
four  years,  becoming  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  business.  He  was  a  thoughtful  and  studious 
lad.  and  at  an  early  age  evinced  the  inclination  of 
his  mind  for  pious  things.  In  the  spring  of  1851 
he  was  sent  to  Clark  County,  this  State,  by  the 
Board  of  Missions  of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Elder- 
ship of  the  Church  of  God,  of  which  he  had  become 
a  member  in  1848,  to  establish  churches.  This  he 
successfully  accomplished,  and  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  mission  which  extended  into  Macon  County. 
He  was  thus  employed  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
late  war,  and  in  1861  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  123d  Mtd. 
Inf.,  as  Sergeant  of  the  company,  becoming  Chap- 
lain of  the  regiment  in  1865.  He  was  also  on  de- 
taehed  duty  as  Ordnance  Sergeant,  and  after  a 
faithful  service  of  three  years,  retired  from  the 
army  with  a  good  record,  the  respect  of  his  supe- 
rior officers,  and  the  good-will  of  his  subordinates. 
He  now  took  up  his  life  work  as  a  general  evangel- 
ist throughout  the  State,  and  for  two  years  trav- 
eled continuously.  In  1883  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence at  Charleston,  and  since  that  time  has  trav- 
eled mostly  throughout  Cumberland  and  Edgar 
Counties.  He  is  now  pastor  of  three  churches, 
which  keep  him  busily  employed.  In  1884  he  was 
appointed  as  a  delegate  to  attend  the  State  Conven- 
tion which  nominated  Richard .  G.  Oglesby  for 
Governor,  and  took  an  important  part  in  the  noin- 


ination  of  the  present  State  Executive.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say.  in  view  of  this  fact,  that  he  be- 
longs to  the  Republican  party.  He  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  G.  A.  R. 

The  marriage  of  Rev.  George  Sandoe  and  Miss 
Mary  Rupp,  of  Clark  County,  111.,  took  place  in  the 
spring  of  1854,  and  they  first  located  in  their  snug 
little  home  at  Martinsville,  Clark  County,  in  the 
year  1860.  Their  living  children  are  Emma,  Mrs. 
H.  Cunningham,  of  Martinsville;  Effie,  Mrs.  B. 
Cook,  of  Kansas,  who  has  two  children — Verney 
A.  and  B.  L. ;  Bertie  and  George  B.  The  oldest 
child,  Josie  K.  White,  died  on  the  16th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1886,  and  left  three  children— Zackey  B.,  Em- 
ma and  Effa  White. 

The'property  of  Mr.  Sandoe  includes  his  fine  lit- 
tle farm  of  thirty  acres  in  Clark  County,,  and  his 
present  home  at  Charleston.  He  purchased  the 
four  acres  of  land  embraced  in  the  latter  in  March, 
1886,  and  put  up  a  neat  and  substantial  residence, 
with  the  other  buildings  necessary  for  comfort  and 
convenience,  and  here  lives  respected  by  his  friends 
and  neighbors,  doing  good  as  he  has~  opportunity, 
and  making  the;most  of  a  life  inclined. to  industry 
and  usefulness. 


A.  BENSLEY  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate 
containing  360  acres  of  valuable,  well-im- 
proved land,  located  on  section  21  (11.  10)> 
Hutton  Township,  where  he  carries  on  an  extensive 
business  in  farming  and  stock-growing.  He  was 
born  Aug.  6,  1865,  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Tirzah  (Knapp)  Bensley. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  also  named  John,  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  where  he  was  born  July  6,  1706. 
In  1776,  when  a  boy  only  ten  years  of  age,  he  ac- 
companied his  older  brothers,  William  and  Israel, 
to  the  United  States.  They  settled  on  the  North 
River  in  Delaware,  and  after  remaining  there  about 
one  year,  removed  to  Tioga  County,  Pa.,  where 
they  purchased  laud  and  resided  for  several  years. 
John  Bensley,  Sr's.,  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Wilson 
took  place  there,  and  soon  after  this  event  Mr. 
Bensley  removed  to  Hamilton  County,  Ohio.  After 
remaining  there  a  few  years,  he  removed  to  Dela- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


ware  County,  making  that  place  his  permanent 
home.  His  death  occurred  Aug.  10,  1853,  and  his 
widow,  who  survived  him  but  a  short  time,  died  in 
1856. 

John  Bensley,  Sr.,  reared  a  family  of  ten  children, 
whose  record  is  as  follows:  James,  born  Oct,  21, 
1791,  married  Miss  Kate  Pope;  both  are  deceased. 
William,  born  Dec.  10,  1792,  served  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  was  in  Hull's  surrender;  he  died  soon 
after  his  return  home.  Anna,  born  Nov.  10,  1794, 
married  Philip  Place,  and  after  his  death  was  mar- 
ried to  Daniel  Carpenter,  and  both  are  now  de- 
ceased ;  three  children  were  born  to  the  first  mar- 
riage, and  five  to  the  second.  Betsy,  born  Jan.  17, 
1797,  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Alexander,  and  both 
are  deceased;  Mary,  born  July  26,  1799,  was  the 
wife  of  Nathan  Taylor ;  both  are  deceased.  Cathe- 
rine, born  Aug.  3,  1802,  was  the  wife  of  David 
Skeels,  and  after  his  death  she  married  Caleb  Brun- 
didge;  three  children  were  born  to  the  second 
marriage,  and  one  to  the  first;  she  is  now  dead,  and 
likewise  both  husbands.  Rachel,  born  Aug.  22,  1 804, 
married  John  Pint;  both  died,  leaving  seven  chil- 
dren. John,  the  father  of  our  subject,  born  Jan.  31, 
1807;  Israel,  born  Sept.  18,  1809,  married  Miss 
Etfie  Quinby,  and  died  in  the  Indian  Territory, 
where  his  widow  is  now  living;  Thomas,  born  Nov. 
5,  1815,  married  Miss  Rebecca  Martin. 

John  Bensley,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Tioga  County,  Pa.,  and  was  six  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Ohio.  The  school  privileges 
of  that  early  day  were  very  limited,  and  he  received 
only  a  rudimentary  education.  He  lived  on  the 
homestead  with  his  parents  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  and  at  twenty-three  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Tirzah  Knapp  took  place,  May  4,  1828,  in  Delaware 
County,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Bensley  was  born  May  3, 1808, 
in  Tioga  County,  Pa.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Ed- 
w.ard  and  Esther  Knapp.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  Vermont,  and  her  father  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  and  the  War  of  1812.  After  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Bensley  rented  land  in  Delaware  County, 
Ohio,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  there  about  ten 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  in  the  autumn 
of  1 838,  he  removed  to  Hutton  Township,  Coles  Co., 
111.  He  made  the  journey,  which  occupied  several 
days,  by  wagon,  with  his  wife  and  four  children. 


On  his  arrival  here  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Hutton  Township,  which 'was  covered  with  a 
growth  of  white  oak  timber.  The  country  was  al- 
most a  wilderness  at  that  time ;  cold  weather  was 
approaching,  and  to  provide  shelter  for  his  family, 
Mr.  Bensley  built  a  log  house  in  the  primitive 
fashion,  which  his  wife  endeavored  to  render  as 
cheerful  and  comfortable  as  'possible.  The  few 
settlers  of  that  early  day  were  separated  from  each 
other  by  wide  stretches  of  desolate  prairie  and 
lonely  .woodland,  but  heart}'  good-will  and  gener- 
ous feeling  prevailed  among  them.  Each  was  ready 
to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  his  neighbor  in  raising  a 
log  cabin,  lending  a  team,  or  some  useful  fanning 
utensil,  many  times  going  five  or  six  miles  to  render 
these  kindly  services. 

Mr.  Bensley  cleared  and  improved  his  land,  and 
purchased  more  until  he  acquired  a  fine  estate  con- 
taining 180  acres.  The  nearest  grain  markets  at 
that  time  were  Terre  Haute,  Chicago  and  St.  Louis, 
and  he  frequently  conveyed  his  produce  to  either 
one  or  the  other  of  these  points,  purchasing  gro- 
ceries and  provisions  for  his  family  and  transporting 
goods  thence  for  the  merchants  at  Charleston. 
Sportsmen  had  ample  opportunity  to  test  their  skill 
on  the  wild  fowls,  deer  and  wolves,  with  which  the 
prairies  abounded. 

The  family,  which  also  included  Grandmother 
Knapp,  moved  in  the  year  1850  by  ox-team  to  Jo 
Daviess  County,  remaining  there  about  one  year. 
On  their  return  home,  in  fording  a  creek,  the  waters 
of  which  were  swollen  by  recent  rains,  the  old 
family  Bible  received  a  baptism  in  the  floods,  which, 
however,  did  not  injure  its  precious  truths,  the 
bulwarks  of  all  that  is  grand  and  true  and  noble  in 
the  foundation  of  this  great  Western  country. 
The  book  has  been  carefully  preserved  and  is  in 
Mr.  Bensley's  possession.  He  is  now  eighty  years 
of  age,  and  is  still  hale  and  heart}',  although  he  has 
been  a  sufferer  from  asthma  for  the  last  forty  years. 
With  his  wife,  Mr.  Bensley  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  both  were  inter- 
ested in  promoting  the  "cause  of  religion  on  the 
Western  frontier.  Mrs.  Bensley  died  Sept.  24, 
1877,  and  is  buried  in  Hutton  Churchyard.  Their 
family  consisted  of  psix  children:  Mary,  born 
March  14,  1829,  was  married  March  9,  1848,  to 


t  .    552 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Russell  McMorris,  and  died  June  7,  1857,  leaving 
two  children;  Stephen  J.,  born  Feb.  21,  1831,  was 
married  Feb.  20,  1851,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Stull,  and 
resides  in  Cumberland  County ;  Charles  K.,  born 
June  28,  1833.  was  married  Feb.  14,  1856,  to  Miss 
Drusilla  Anderson,  and  likewise  resides  in  Cum- 
berland County;  Thomas  A.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Lavinia  A.,  bom  June  15,  1841,  was  mar- 
ried in  September,  1859,  and  died  Dec.  12,  1860; 
and  Tirza  A.,  born  Feb.  16,  1844,  was  married  Dec. 
22,  1867,  to  Bennet  House,  and  resides  in  Cumber- 
land County. 

Thomas  A.  Bensley  received  the  best  common- 
school  education  which  the  pioneer  days  afforded, 
and  assisted  his  father  in  cultivating  the  farm,  re- 
maining at  the  homestead  until  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Eliza  J.  Black,  which  took  place  March  7, 
1861.  Mrs.  Bensley  was  born  Aug.  29,  1842,  in 
this  county,  and  is  the  daughter  of  David  and  Tem- 
perance (Stull)  Black,  the  former  born  Feb.  20, 
1823,  in  Alabama,  and  the  latter  Aug.  8,  1828,  in 
Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Black  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  and  now  reside  in  Huttou  Town- 
ship. Their  family  consisted  of  seven  children; 
Eliza  J. ;  Jonathan,  deceased  in  childhood  ;  Permelia, 
the  wife  of  Leonard  Wooleaver;  William  S.  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one;  Serilda,  the  wife  of  John 
W.  Dunn,  resides  in  Diona;  John  R.  married  Miss 
Lillias  Vantassel,  and  Harriett  L.,  the  wife  of  Louis 
Hill.  John  R.,  Mrs.  Wooleaver  and  Mrs.  Hill  are 
residents  of  Cumberland  County. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Bensley  removed,  Aug. 
21, 1864,  to  Union  Township,  Cumberland  County, 
where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  improved  land, 
and  carried  on  a  successful  business  nine  years.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time  his  parents,  who  were 
advanced  in  years,  desired  rest  from  the  cares  of 
active  business  and  he  returned  and  purchased  the 
homestead,  which  contained  100  acres,  paying  the 
other  heirs  their  proportion  of  the  estate.  His 
parents  made  their  home  with  him,  and  his  mother's 
death  occurred  there  a  few  years  later.  Mr.  Bens- 
ley  possesses  excellent  business  qualifications,  and 
now  owns  a  large  estate,  where  he  is  extensively 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  There  are 
three  excellent  frame  residences  on  his  property, 
and  he  has  recently'built  a  commodious,  well-ap- 


pointed barn  on  the  homestead,  a  view  of  which 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bensley  have  three  sons:  Erastus 
A.,  born  Jan.  10,  1862,  married  Miss  Miranda 
Johnson,  Nov.  23,  1885,  and  resides  in  Mutton 
Township;  George  W.,  born  March  14,  1861,  mar- 
ried Miss  Lovitha  J.  Stull,  Nov.  21,  1866,  and  re- 
sides on  a  farm  belonging  to  his  father,  and  Daniel 
O.,  born  June  20,  1867,  resides  on  the  homestead. 
Having  no  daughter  in  their  family  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bensley  reared  in  their  household  Miss  Leota 
Schuyler.  She  was  born  Feb.  16,  1868,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Angelina  Schuyler.  Her 
father  died  during  her  childhood  and  she  subse- 
quently made  her  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bensley 
until  her  marriage  with  George  McMorris,  which 
occurred  Nov.  21,  1886. 

Mr.  Bensley  had  always  resided  with  his  parents 
with  the  exception  of  the  nine  years  passed  in 
Cumberland  County,  and  in  1876  he  disposed  of 
his  property  there.  He  is  interested  in  educational 
affairs,  and  in  all  measures  tending  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  the  community.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
Democrat,  casting  his  first  vote  for  James  Bu- 
chanan, and  has  been  elected  to  the  offices  of  Super- 
visor and  School  Director  by  that  party.  With  his 
wife,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Free  Baptist  Church. 


ON.  THOMAS  L.  McGRATH,  of  Mattoon, 
was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  June  6,  1852, 
and  is  the  son  of  Michael  and  Margaret 
(Farrell)  McGrath,  natives  of  Ireland.  The 
parents  came  to  America  in  1850,  settling  in  Boston, 
where  the}'  spent  three  years  or  more,  and  after  a 
brief  residence  at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  proceeded 
westward  to  this  State,  locating  about  six  milus 
south  of  Lincoln,  in  Logan  County,  where  they  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  the  death  of  the  father, 
which  took  place  in  1863.  The  mother  is  still  liv- 
ing and  a  resident  of  Lincoln. 

The  sons  and  daughters  of  Michael  and  Margaret 
McGrath,  seven  in  number,  were,  Rebecca,  now 
Mrs.  P.  M.  Smith,  of  Peoria;  Patrick  L.,  of  Mt. 
Pulaski;  Thomas  L.,  our  subject;  M.  H.  and  D.  E., 
physicians  of  Chicago;  John  J.,  a  student  at  Rush 


OF  THE 
:I:"I"-:RUITY  OF  ILLO'S 


COLES  COUNTY. 


555 


Medical  College,  and  Margaret,  also  a  resident  of 
the  Garden  City.  Thomas  L.  attended  the  district 
school  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  afterward 
pursued  his  studies  in  the  State  University  at  Nor- 
mal. When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  commenced 
teaching  in  Logan  County,  reserving  his  wages  for 
the  purpose  of  continuing  his  studies  in  the  Nor- 
mal School  and  where,  after  another  thorough 
course,  he  was  graduated  in  1872.  He  afterward 
taught  in  Montgomery  County,  and  subsequently 
became  Principal  of  the  public  school  at  Equality, 
111.  In  1874  he  occupied  this  position  in  connec- 
tion with  the  High  School  at  Butler,  111. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  McGrath  occupied  his 
leisure  hours  in  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Springfield,  in  January,  1876.  He 
began  his  practice  at  Sullivan,  whence,  in  1878,  he 
removed  to  Mattoon,  where  he  has  since  remained 
and  acquitted  himself  in  a  most  creditable  manner 
as  an  attorney  and  counselor.  In  1879  he  was 
elected  as  City  Attorney  of  Mattoon,  serving  two 
years,  and  was  re-elected  in  1883.  In  1886  he  was 
elected  to  represent  the  people  of  his  district  in 
the  State  Senate,  becoming  an  efficient  member  of 
that  body  and  introducing  some  valuable  measures. 
Besides  thus  educating  himself  he  has  assisted  his 
brothers  and  sisters  in  their  pursuit  of  knowledge, 
and  has  thus,  by  his  example,  been  the  encourager 
of  those  elements  of  character  most  valued  in  an 
intelligent  community.  Mr.  McGrath  has  uni- 
formly voted  the  straight  Republican  ticket,  and 
given -his  time  mainly  to  his  practice. 


ENNIS  HANKS.  One  of  the  well-known 
and  familiar  names  of  Coles  County  is 
that  of  Dennis  Hanks.  He  is  noted,  like 
many  other  men  are  and  have  been,  on  ac- 
count of  his  connections  with  the  noblest  character 
of  his  generation,  Abraham  Lincoln.  The  two 
passed  their  boyhood  together,  sleeping  in  the  same 
bed  and  engaging  in  the  same  labors  and  sport. 
One  arose  from  the  humble  position  in  which  they 
both  lived  to  the  most  exalted  station  in  the  Nation, 
while  the  other  grew  up  only  to  be  a  respected 
farmer  in  the  community  in  which  he  has  lived  for 
a  half  century,  and  to  admire  his  companion  and 


to  know  that  any  trust  reposed  in  him  would  never 
be  betrayed. 

The  Flankses  and  Lincolns  were  considerably 
mixed  up  in  their  family  relations.  They  came 
from  Indiana  together,  lived  in  the  same  house, 
and  Dennis  Hanks  married  the  daughter,  Sallie 
Johnston,  of  the  second  wife  of  Thomas  Lincoln. 
Dennis  Hanks  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  lived, 
prior  to  his  removal  to  Indiana,  in  Hardin  County. 
In  speaking  of  his  removal  to  the  latter-named 
State,  he  says,  "At  that  time  Indiana  was  a  desper-, 
ately  sickly  place.  Miasma  poisoned  the  atmos- 
phere. There  was  no  doctor  near.  We  were  there 
in  the  year  1825,  when  Jackson  and  Adams  ran  for 
President.  I  was  then  but  nineteen  years  of  age, 
yet  I  acted  as  Clerk  of  Election  and  actually  voted 
for  Jackson,  therefore  I  have  voted  for  him  three 
times.  There  was  a  school  in  the  neighborhood. 
Sallie  and  Abe  went  to  school.  I  first  taught  him 
to  spell  and  read  and  write.  I  made  the  first  pen 
that  he  ever  had.  I  killed  a  buzzard  and  took  his 
wing  feathers  for  pens,  as  there  were  no  geese  in  the 
settlement.  We  either  used  buzzard  or  wild  turkey 
feathers.  Abe's  first  pen  was  made  of  a  buzzard's 
quill.  Afterward  he  went  one  quarter  to  a  sub- 
scription school  kept  by  Josiah  Crawford,  from 
Kentucky,  who  lived  about  a  mile  away  and  taught 
a  school.  He  was  a  pretty  good  scholar." 

Dennis  Hanks  became  a  pioneer  of  this  county 
at  an  early  day,  and  has  been  an  honest,  hard- 
working man  for  these  many  years,  and  now,  in  the 
sunset  period  of  life,  he  looks  back  with  the  pleas- 
antest  recollections,  and  well  he  may,  to  the  days 
when  the  man  this  Nation  will  always  love  to 
honor  was  his  constant  companion.  We  take 
pleasure  in  presenting  the  portrait  of  this  friend  of 
our  martyred  President  in  this  volume.  He  is  a 
worthy  and  highty  respected  citizen  of  the  county 
and  one  whose  features  the  generations  to  follow 
will  be  glad  to  look  upon. 


OTHER  J.  NORTON,  a  farmer,  and  dealer 
in  fine  cattle  and  horses,  has  for  many  years 
been  a  prominent  figure  among  the  business 
and  agricultural  interests  of  East  Oakland  Town- 
ship. He  is  a  native  of  this  State,  born  in  Edgar 


556 


COLES   COUNTY. 


County,  Feb.  1C,  1858,  and  the  son  of  John  A.  and 
Mary  E.  (Hanger)  Norton,  both  natives  of  Ohio. 
John  Norton  was  born  in  Madison  County,  March 
21,  1826,  and  departed  this  life  in  August,  1859, 
meeting  his  death  in  a  painful  manner  by  being 
thrown  from  a  horse  in  front  of  his  own  door,  and 
dying  three  days  later.  The  animal  was  young  and 
spirited,  and  the  saddle-girth  broke,  throwing  the 
rider  in  such  a  manner  that  his" neck  was  fractured 
and  recovery  impossible. 

The  mother  was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  March 
30,  1  829,  and  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Norton  became 
the  wife  of  George  W.  Ashmore.  The  latter  gentle- 
man was  killed  by  a  runaway  team,  dying  almost  in- 
stantly from  the  injuries  received.  He  was  a  stock 
trader,  and  had  accumulated  considerable  property 
in  Oakland,  where  he  was  a  prominent  business 
man.  He  was  sixty-five  years  old  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  This  lady  became  the  mother  of  six 
children,  three  by  Mr.  Ashmore  and  three  by  Mr. 
Norton.  The  latter  included  Clara  L.,  who  mar- 
ried L.  D.  Carter,  of  this  place;  Laura  A.,  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  Luther  J.,  of  our  sketch. 

In  1878  Mr.  Norton  engaged  in  business  with  his 
step-father,  with  whom  he  continued  until  1885, 
and  then  commenced  the  breeding  of  fine  stock, 
making  a  specialty  of  horses  of  different  breeds, 
but  principally  Kentucky  and  Hambletonian.  He 
is  an  excellent  judge  of  horseflesh,  and  takes  great 
pride  in  exhibiting  his  fine  animals,  which  are  sec- 
ond to  none  in  this  part  of  Illinois.  His  300-acre 
farm  provides  ample  facilities  for  the  carrying  on 
of  his  business  in  a  first-class  manner,  and  his  ex- 
cellent judgment  uniformly  insures  him  success  in 
this  department. 

The  marriage  of  Luther  J.  Norton  and  Miss 
Florence  I.  Zimmerman,  a  native  of  East  Oakland 
Township,  was  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride 
Oct.  25,  1882.  Of  this  union  there  is  one  child, 
Clara,  born  March  22,  1 887.  The  residence  of  our 
subject  and  his  family  is  a  handsome  and  conven- 
ient structure,  pleasantly  located,  and  forms  a  hos- 
pitable and  attractive  resort  for  their  many  friends. 

The  Norton  family  is  of  English  origin.  One  of 
the  early  representatives  in  this  country  was  Aaron 
C.,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  was  born 
Sept.  21,  1798.  He  was  the  sou  of  Solomon  Nor- 

«•  i 


ton,  who  was  born  in  1751,  and  lived  to  be  one 
hundred  and  one  years  old.  The  family  was  quite 
prolific,  and  the  sons  and  daughters  became  highly 
respected  members  of  society.  Mr.  N.  was  reared 
in  the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Church,  but  Mrs. 
N.  is  connected  with  the  Old-School  Presbyterians. 
The  Zimmerman  family  were  probably  originally 
Whigs,  and  the  later  members  have  been  strong 
Republicans.  Mr.  Norton  is  one  of  the  stanchest 
advocates  of  Democratic  doctrines. 


A.  MARTIN,  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  the  agricultural  interests  of  Hum- 
bolt  Township  for  the  last  fifteen  years,  has 
been  successfully  engaged  in  general  agri- 
culture and  stock-raising  on  his  finely  cultivated 
farm  of  forty  acres,  occupying  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  23.  He  is  one  of  the  most  thorough 
tillers  of  the  soil  in  the  northern  portion  of  Coles 
County,  and  every  acre  of  his  land  is  utilized  to 
the  best  advantage,  nothing  being  allowed  to  go  to 
waste.  His  bujldings,  fences  and  machinery  indi- 
cate the  care  and  good  judgment  exercised  in  the 
management  of  the  farm,  and  the  general  air  of 
thrift  and  prosperity  is  all  the  recommendation 
required  to  establish  the  intelligence  and  industry 
of  its  proprietor. 

Mr.  Martin  is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  was 
born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Lafayette  Township, 
Nov.  27,  1835.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Dates)  Martin,  the  former  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, born  Dec.  26,  1811.  His  death  took  place 
in  this  county  in  1843.  The  mother,  a  native  of 
Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  was  born  Dec.  25,  1811, 
being  just  one  day  older  than  her  husband. 
They  were  married  in  1830,  and  became  the  parents 
of  six  children:  Amanda  E.,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Benjamin  Bolen,  and  Seth  B.,  are  deceased; 
James  A.,  of  our  sketch,  was  the  third  child  ;  Eliza 
J.  married  Henry  T.  Miller,  and  is  now  deceased  ; 
Phebe  died  in  childhood  ;  Charles  D.  married  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Whitney,  and  is  farming  in  Lafayette 
Township. 

Mrs.  Martin,  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband, 
was  married  Sept.  25,  1846,  to  Robert  Miller,  who 


COLES  COUNTY. 


557 


was  a  native  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  born  Sept.  4, 
1801.  Of  this  marriage  there  were  four  children, 
the  record  of  whom  is  as  follows  :  Thomas  M.  N. 
married  Miss  Sarah  Jeffries,  and  Rachel  became 
the  wife  of  John  G.  Jeffries;  both  are  deceased. 
Winfield  Scott  married  in  Douglas  County,  and  is 
a  resident  of  Nebraska.,  Belinda  died  in  early 
childhood.  Robert  Miller  died  at  his  home  in  La- 
fayette Township,  April  29,  1862.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  is  living  on  the  old  homestead. 

James  A.  Martin  in  early  life  -became  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  various  employments  of  the 
farm,  and  when  contemplating  the  establishment  of 
a  home  of  his  own,  decided  to  follow  the  occupa- 
tion of  his  father.  The  first  important  step  toward 
this  end  was  his  marriage  with  Miss  Rachel  Wells. 
which  occurred  at  the  home  of  her  sister  in  Lafay- 
ette Township,  March  19,  1863.  Mrs.  M.  was  born 
near  Circleville,  Ohio,  Nov.  6,  1845,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Elisha  and  Martha  (Williams)  Wells, 
the  former  of  whom  died  in  Ohio  in  about  1857. 
The  mother  is  still  living  there.  The  parental 
household  included  twelve  children:  Sarah  A.,  a 
resident  of  Ohio;  Elizabeth  married  Isaac  Kite,  of 
Perry  County,  Ohio;  Reason  married  Miss  Isabel 
McDill,  and  is  farming  in  Kansas;  Martha  is  de- 
ceased ;  Nancy  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Herman,  a 
farmer  of  Lafayette  Township;  Susanna;  Rachel; 
Margaret  married  A.  T.  Martin,  of  Lafayette  Town- 
ship, and  died  in  1872;  Isabel  and  Joseph  are  de- 
ceased ;  Caroline  is  the  wife  of  Elijah  Hite,  and  a 
resident  of  Perry  County,  Ohio;  Louisa  married 
Thomas  Cooper,  and  also  lives  in  the  Buckeye 
State.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  have  no  children. 
Mr.  Martin  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 


\  LDER  G.  K.  BERRY,  pastor  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  at  Charleston,  is  the  descend- 
ant of  an  old  Virginian  family  of  Scotch- 
Irish  extraction.  He  was  born  Oct.  24,  1854,  in 
Washington  County,  Va.,  and  is  the  sou  of  Nathan- 
iel and  Isabella  (Keyes)  Berry.  The  former  passed 
his  entire  life  in  his  native  State,  where  he  was  a 
prosperous  farmer.  He  belonged  to  the  Dem- 
ocratic part}'  in  politics,  but  was  opposed  to  the 


system  of  slavey.  His  death  occurred  in  August, 
185C.  His  family  consisted  of  six  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows:  Martha,  now 
Mrs.  Buford,  a  resident  of  Winfield,  Kan.;  Sally, 
now  Mrs.  Jowney,  a  resident  of  the  same  place; 
Rev.  William  B.,  a  resident  of  College  City,  Cal., 
and  Elder  G.  K.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Berry  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  in  Vir- 
ginia until  1867,  when  his  widowed  mother  left  the 
old  home  with  her  family  and  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  McDonough  County.  They  rented  a 
farm  in  New  Salem,  which  was  conducted  by  her 
oldest  son.  Their  beloved  mother  did  not  long 
survive  her  removal  West,  her  death  occurring 
March  3,  1870.  Our  subject  assisted  his  brother 
on  the  farm,  attending  the  district  school  for  one 
year,  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  then 
taught  school  during  a  term  of  four  months  in 
Hire  Township.  He  then  attended  Abingdon 
College,  Knox  County,  one  term,  after  which  he 
resumed  teaching  in  Hire  Township  for  nine 
months.  The  following  summer  he  taught  school 
in  Scotland  Township.  He  then  attended  the 
Normal  school  at  Macomb  for  a  few  weeks,  em- 
bracing every  opportunity  offered  for  mental  im- 
provement. He  made  the  best  use  of  hi?  time,  and 
then  taught'  school  again  several  months  in  that 
vicinity.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  Macomb,  and  was  immersed  by  Elder 
G.  W.  Mapes.  His  religious  convictions  were  deep 
rooted,  and  he  then  resolved  to  become  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel,  and  commenced  the  study  of  theo- 
logy at  Eureka  College,  Woodford  County,  111., 
where  he  applied  himself  closely  to  his  work  for 
one  year,  and  then  passed  another  year  in  teaching 
school  and  preaching  informally  in  Marshall  County. 

Our  subject  then  returned  to  Macomb  and  was 
ordained  by  Elder  G.  W.  Mapes  on  the  third 
Sunday  in  June,  1878.  His  first  clerical  charge 
was  at  Toulon,  Stark  Co.,  111.,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  The  difficulties  through  which  he  bad 
acquired  his  education  were  arduous,  and  feeling 
the  need  of  rest  and  recreation  he  passed  a  month 
in  visiting  his  old  home  in  Virginia,  and  then 
entered  Butler  University  at  Indianapolis,  to  pur- 
sue his  studies  further.  He  remained  there  six  • 
I  months,  preaching  at  the  same  time  in  the  Olive 


I 


558 


COLES   COUNTY. 


Branch  Christian  Church.  After  spending  several 
months  at  Williamsville,  Sangamon  Co.,  111.,  he 
entered  the  Christian  University  at  Canton,  Mo., 
where  he  was  graduated  in  June,  1882,  and  took 
charge  of  the  church  at  Memphis,  Mo.,  for  one 
year.  His  next  charge  was  at  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
where  he  spent  about  one  year.  He  was  then 
called  to  East  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  where  he  organ- 
ized a  church  and  built  a  parsonage.  He  remained 
at  Des  Moines  thirteen  months,  and  then  went  to 
California  to  visit  his  brother,  and  on  his  return 
took  charge  of  the  Christian  Church  in  Charleston 
in  1886. 

Elder  Berry  is  a  young  man  of  unusual  ability 
in  his  profession  and  has  exhibited  a  degree  of 
courage  and  energy  in  overcoming  difficulties 
which  can  hardly  fail  to  win  success  in  the  arduous 
calling  he  has  chosen,  which  is  one  of  self-sacrifice 
and  toil.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 


'Ml  R.  TOBEY,  a  worthy  representative  of  the 
enterprise  and  intelligence  of  the  little  city 
of  Mattoon,  during  his  younger  years 
served  first  as  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army, 
and  then  coming  to  the  West,  engaged  in  the  fur- 
niture business  at  Mattoon,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained and  been  closely  identified  with  its 
mercantile  and  industrial  interests.  He  is  a  native 
of  West  Alexandria,  Preble  Co.,  Ohio,  where  his 
birth  took  place  in  1839,  and  is  the  son  of  Rev. 
Michael  I.  and  Catherine  (Rouher)  Tobey,  natives 
of  Maryland. 

The  father  of  our  subject  commenced  his  minis- 
try in  connection  with  the  United  Brethren  Church 
at  Sharpsburg,  Md.,  about  1836,  and  continued 
preaching  thereafter  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  removed  to  Ohio,  of 
which  he  was  a  resident  until  1854,  when  he  came 
to  this  county  and  settled  at  Mattoon  in  1855.  He 
finally  became  associated  with  his  son,  our  subject, 
in  the  furniture  business,  and  remained  thus  con- 
nected until  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1869. 
The  mother  is  still  living,  making  her  home  with 
our  subject.  The  parental  family  included  five 


children,  of  whom  only  two  are  now  living,  our 
subject  and  his  sister,  Mrs.  AV.  F.  Miller,  of  Mat- 
toon.  Michael  Tobey  was  the  first  Mayor  of 
Mattoon,  which  was  incorporated  as  a  city  about 
1856.  He  served  as  Township  Collector  two  terms 
and  was  otherwise  identified  with  city  and  town- 
ship affairs.  Politically  he  was  in  earlier  years  an 
old-line  Whig,  and  later  identified  himself  with 
the  Republicans. 

Our  subject  received  a  good  education,  complet- 
ing his  studies  in  the  college  at  Westerville,  Ohio. 
Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  B,  7th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  serving  two  and  one- 
half  years,  and  participating  in  many  important 
battles  and  skirmishes.  He  fortunately  escaped 
serious  injur}'  in  his  conflicts  with  the  enemy,  and 
his  acquaintance  with  the  hardships  of  a  soldier's 
life,  and  after  receiving  his  honorable  discharge, 
located  at  Mattoon  and  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business,  in  which  he  has  continued  now  for  a 
period  of  twenty-three  years.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  eleven  years 
and  is  Treasurer  of  the  Masonic  Lodge. 

Mr.  Tobey  was  married  in  1869,  to  Miss  Cynthia 
A.  Woods,  a  native  of  this  State,  and  the  daughter 
of  Rev.  J.  W.  Woods,  of  tho  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church.  Their  two  children  are  Florence 
and  Raymond  P.  They  occupy  a  neat  and  comfort- 
able home,  and  Mr.  Tobey,  true  to  his  earl}'  prin- 
ciples, is  a  decided  Republican,  politic-all}-,  and 
socially  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  G. 
A.  R. 


ILLIAM  G.  WADDILL,  of  Mattoon  Town- 
ship, and  the  oldest  living  settler  of  Coles 
County,  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
E.  Tenn.,  Nov.  7,  1804,  and  was  the  eldest  of 
eleven  children  included  in  the  family  of  Jonathan 
and  Hannah  (Greenway)  Waddill.  The  former, 
also  a  native  of  Tennessee,  was  the  son  of  John  and 
Rachel  (Twee)  Waddill,  who  were  of  Scotch  and 
Irish  ancestry.  They  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  East  Tennessee,  where  they  spent  the  last  years 
of  their  life,  the  grandfather  dying  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-seven  years.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 


f 


COLES   COUNTY. 


559 


ject  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Humphreys)  Greenway,  natives  respectively  of 
New  Jersey  and  Tennessee.  Both  grandfathers 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  Jonathan  Wad- 
dill  was  reared  to  farm  pursuits,  which  he  followed 
all  his  life,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  he  served 
as  Captain  in  the  War  of  1812,  being  under  the  di- 
rect command  of  Gen.  Jackson.  Afterward  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  State,  where,  with  his  worthy 
wife,  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

Our  subject  continued  under  the  home  roof  un- 
til nearly  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  was  married 
on  the  29th  of  June,  1825,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Burg- 
ner,  a  native  of  his  own  county,  and  the  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Cline)  Burgner,  of.Rock- 
ingham  County,  Va.  The  young  people  located 
on  a  farm  which  Mr.  W.  had  purchased,  and  where 
they  remained  eleven  years.  Mr.  W.  then  sold 
out  with  the  intention  of  migrating  to  the  North, 
and  coming  to  this  county  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  wild  land  in  Mattoon  Township.  This  he  sold 
not  long  afterward  for  a  more  desirable  tract  of 
the  same  extent,  and  which  included  both  prairie 
and  timber.  Here  in  due  time  he  established  a 
comfortable  home,  which  he  still  occupies.  Be- 
sides general  farming  he  has  engaged  considerably 
in  stock-raising  and  has  been  fairly  prosperous  in 
his  labors. 

When  Mr.  Waddill  first  came  to  this  section  the 
nearest  mill  was  twenty  miles  away.  Neighbors 
were  few  and  far  between,  and  deer,  wolves  and  other 
wild  game  were  plentiful.  The  wolves  robbed 
them  of  their  fowls  at  night  and  frequently  howled 
close  to  their  cabin  door.  Our  subject,  however, 
was  not  dismayed  by  any  of  these  things,  but 
fought  his  way  bravely  through  difficulty  and  hard- 
ship, and  with  very  few  changes  of  residence  has 
spent  a  lifetime  in  the  same  community,  and  occu- 
pied his  present  dwelling  fora  period  of  forty-eight 
years.  His  first  great  affliction  occurred  on  the  4th 
of  September,  1854,  when  death  deprived  the  home 
circle  of  the  faithful  and  affectionate  wife  and 
mother,  who  departed  hence  and  left  a  family  of 
eight  children.  These  were  named  respectively 
Jonathan,  Hannah  Pamelia,  John  B.,  Elizabeth 
Caroline,  Mary  Sophia,  William  Henry,  Elizabeth 
Ann  and  Thomas  Chaniberlin.  Of  these  but  four 


are  now   living,  namely,  John  B.,  William  H.,  So- 
phia and  Pamelia. 

Mr.  Waddill  after  the  death  of  the  mother  kept 
his  family  together  as  well  as  he  could  for  the  year 
following,  and  was  then  married,  Aug.  26,  1855,  to 
Miss  Julia  A.,  the  eldest  child  of  Andrew  and  Sa- 
rah (Moore)  Bell,  who  were  natives  of  East  Ten- 
nessee, and  the  parents  of  twelve  children.  Of  this 
union  there. were  born  four  children,  two  now  liv- 
ing— Charles  T.  and  Andrew  E.  The  eldest  died 
unnamed,  and  Dora  passed  away  when  an  interest- 
ing girl  fourteen  years  of  age.  Andrew  married 
Miss  Louetta  Morris,  and  remains  upon  the  home- 
stead, which  he  manages  for  his  father.  Mr.  Wad- 
dill  is  a  church  member,  and  when  a  young  man 
affiliated  with  the  Whig  party.  He  now  takes  no 
part  in  politics. 


S.  MINTON,  who  is  prominently  identified 
with  the  business  and  trade  interests  of 
Charleston,  is  at  present  engaged  as  an 
active  and  enterprising  lumber  dealer,  with  transac- 
tions extending  over  the  whole  of  Central  Illinois 
and  orders  steadily  increasing.  His  yards  are  lo- 
cated at  the  crossing  of  the  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.,  the  T. 
&  St.  L.,  and  K.  C.  Railroads,  and  for  the  six  years 
in  which  it  has  been  under  the  management  of  Mr. 
M.,  has  been  steadily  growing  in  importance,  until 
it  is  now  one  of  the  fixed  and  indispensable  institu- 
tions of  the  thriving  little  cit)',  within  whose  limits 
are  many  industries,  which,  like  this,  have  been 
built  up  by  its  most  enterprising  men. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  a  native  of 
Washington  County,  Pa.,  born  Jan.  10.  1830,  and 
the  son  of  Thaddeus  D.  and  Permelia  (Squire)  Min- 
ton,  natives  of  the  same- county  as  their  son.  The 
elder  Minton,  a  miller  by  trade,  followed  his  call- 
ing the  greater  part  of  his  life.  His  father,  Philip 
Minton,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  emigrated  to 
Pennsylvania  at  an  early  day,  and  cleared  a  farm 
from  the  wilderness,  oponing  up  from  the  heavy 
limber  a  comfortable  homestead,  where  lie  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  In  this  home  the  father 
of  our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood,  and,  marry - 


560 


COLES   COUNTY. 


ing  a  lady  of  his  own  county,  established  himself 
near  his  father's  house,  where  he  remained  for  many 
years,  and  reared  a  family  of  six  children.  These 
were  Rachel;  Warren  S.,  of  our  sketch;  Annie  L., 
Ruth,  Philip  and  Austin.  The  mother  departed 
this  life  in  Washington  County  in  the  summer  of 
1844,  amid  the  mourning  of  her  family  and  the  re- 
grets of  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Thaddeus  Minton 
survived  his  wife  until  in  May,  1885,  when  he  too 
passed  to  his  final  rest,  being  well  advanced  in 
years.  Both  parents  were  members  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church,  and  reared  their  chil- 
dren to  habits  of  industry  and  principles  of  honor. 

Our  subject  remained  on  the  farm  until  fourteen 
years  old,  and  even  at  that  early  age  had  gained  a 
good  insight  into  business  matters.  He  was  an  am- 
bitious and  wide-awake  youth,  and  at  the  time  his 
father  purchased  a  large  mill  property,  he  became 
one  of  the  night  workmen  and  overseers,  and  con- 
tinued thus  employed  for  eight  years.  He  then  in- 
vested his  surplus  capital  in  a  stock  of  general 
merchandise,  locating  in  Washington  County,  and 
carried  on  business  prosperously  for  a  period  of 
four  years. 

After  disposing  of  his  stock  of  merchandise, 
young  Minton  invested  the  proceeds  in  1,000 
Merino  sheep,  and  hired  them  driven  to  Vermilion 
County,  thid. State.  Securing  a  large,  rich  tract  of 
pasture,  he  kept  his  flock  for  two  years  following, 
which  had  increased  in  the  meantime  to  the  number 
of  1,700  head,  and  the  wool  from  which  he  sold  at 
forty  cents  per  pound.  The  opportunity  then  pre- 
sented itself  for  an  advantageous  trade,  and  part- 
ing with  the  sheep  he  became  possessor  of  a  tract  of 
land  in  Bureau  County,  Iowa,  which  he  lost,  and 
then  returning  to  Illinois  secured  possession  of  a 
valuable  little  farm,  a  part  of  which  lay  within  the 
corporate  limits  ol  Charleston,  and  upon  which  he 
operated  profitably  for  three  years  following.  ! 
Thence  he  removed  to  Clark  County,  and  for  three 
more  years  followed  agricultural  pursuits  near  the 
town  of  Westfield.  From  there  he  removed  to  ' 
Kansas,  in  Edgar  County,  and  resumed  the  busi- 
ness of  a  general  merchant  four  years.  Then  sell- 
ing out  his  stock,  he  came  to  Charleston,  and,  in 
company  with  his  brother-in-law,  W.  G.  Wright, 
purchased  the  first  grocery  store  in  town,  which 


they  conducted  for  twelve  years  following,  with 
marked  success.  Mr.  M.  then  disposed  of  his  in- 
terest in  the  business  to  Mr.  Wright,  who  has 
since  continued  it. 

While  engaged  with  his  partner  in  the  grocery 
business,  Mr.  Minton  and  the  other  members  of  the 
firm  purchased  the  Linkey  Mill,  a  gristmill  run  by 
steam.  They  fitted  it  up  with  four  run  of  stone, 
and  operated  it  two  years,  Mr.  M.  being  mainly  in 
charge.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time,  they  sold 
out  to  H.  M.  Ashmore  for  the  consideration  of  220 
acres  of  land  lying  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of 
the  city.  Soon  afterward  they  traded  the  land  for 
a  stock  of  queensware,  furniture,  stoves  and  tin- 
ware, and  in  connection  with  Mr.  W.  A.  Bain, 
operated  in  the  same  for  two  years.  Mr.  Min- 
ton then  sold  his  interest  to  his  former  partner, 
Mr.  Wright,  and  engaged  with  his  son,  Clarence  H., 
in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade  at  Charleston.  Two 
years  later  they  traded  the  store  for  an  eighty-acre 
farm  in  Humbolt  Township,  and  then,  in  company 
with  Messrs.  Albey  &  Van  Meter,  put  up  the  City 
Mills  at  a  cost  of  about  $17,000.  After  operating 
these  successfully  for  two  years,  Mr.  Minton  sold 
out  to  his  partner,  and  again  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  with  his  son  for  another  two  years.  Then 
with  his  son,  Clarence  H.,  and  a  son-in-law,  Samuel 
E.  Grove,  he  purchased  the  lumber-yard  of  George 
N.  Gage  <fe  Davis,  which  he  has  since  conducted 
with  such  marked  success. 

The  residence  of  Mr.  Minton  is  a  handsome 
structure,  finely  located,  and  with  its  surroundings  is 
an  attractive  spot,  the  resort  of  many  friends,  and 
the  admiration  of  the  passer-by.  The  lady  who 
lias  presided  over  his  household  affairs,  and  been 
the  careful  and  affectionate  mother  to  his  children, 
was  formerly  Miss  Matilda  R.  Wright,  of  Indiana, 
who  became  his  wife  in  the  spring  of  1855.  Mrs. 
Minton  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Ruth  (Gordon)  Wright,  also  natives  of 
that  State.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject  there 
were  born  a  son  and  daughter  only — Evangeline 
and  Clarence  H.  The  former  is  now  the  wife  of 
Samuel  E.  Groves,  of  Charleston,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren— Gordon  and  John  W.  Clarence  married  Miss 
Lilia  Persils,  who  was  born  in  Charleston,  and  is 
the  (laughter  of  John  S.  and  Charlotte  (Norfolk) 


COLES   COUNTY. 


06 1 


1 


Persils,  natives  of  the  same  place.     They  also  have 
two  children — Robert  P.  and  Ruth. 

Mr.  Minton  and  his  estimable  wife  are  members 
in  good  standing  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  our 
subject  is  a  stanch  Republican,  who  adheres  to  his 
political  faith  with  all  the  tenacity  which  character- 
izes him  in  his  other  relations  in  life.  Socially,  he 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Honor,  and  as  a  business 
man  and  citizen,  exerts  no  little  influence  in  shap- 
ing the  affairs  of  his  community. 


,»^A  AMUEL  R.  DUNCAN.  Among  the  success- 
ful men  of  Humbolt  Township,  Samuel  R. 
Duncan  takes  a  high  rank,  he  having  a  rec- 
ord in  his  special  line  second  to  that  of  no 
one.  He  was  born  in  Tennessee,  Nov.  30,  1837, 
and  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Susan  (Norwood) 
Duncan,  of  the  same  State.  The}'  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  five  boys  and  six  girls.  Joseph 
Duncan  came  to  Illinois  in  1844,  locating  in  Craw- 
ford County,  where  he  lived  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  his  death  taking  place  May  6,  1863.  The  date 
of  his  death  is  made  memorable  from  the  fact  that, 
though  late  in  the  season,  the  snow  fell  steadily 
during  the  day.  Mrs.  Duncan  still  resides  in  Ar- 
cola,  as  do  also  her  daughters,  Mrs.  Mary  Todd 
and  Mrs.  Minerva  Ritchey.  Joseph  and  William 
are  residents  of  Iowa ;  James,  of  Kansas :  John  is 
in  Carmi,  111.,  and  Mrs.  Mattie  Burton  resides  in 
Danville,  111. 

Samuel  R.  Duncan  was  reared  to  farming  pur- 
suits, and  is  one  of  the  numerous  examples  of  pros- 
perous men  whose  only  education  was  obtained  in 
the  log  cabin  common  schools  which  abounded  in 
Southern  Illinois  forty  years  ago.  Sept.  6,  1860, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Jesse  and  Charity  (McMichael)  Kel- 
lam.  This  happy  event  took  place  at  the  home  of 
the  bride's  parents  in  Richland  County,  this  State. 
In  the  near  vicinity  Samuel  commenced  the  real 
battle  of  life,  renting  land  which  he  tilled  for  two 
years,  then  moved  to  Crawford  County,  where  he 
again  became  a  renter,  and  so  continued  five  years: 
He  next  went  to  Arcola,  whence  after  three  years' 
residence,  he  rented  land  in  Humbolt  Township. 


His  leasehold  continued  eleven  years,  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  he  purchased  the  farm  of  400 
acres.  In  1881  he  raised  101  tons  of  broom  corn, 
which  he  sold  for  $1.50  per  ton,  and  with  the  pro- 
ceeds bought  the  farm  and  yet  had  money  remain- 
ing. At  the  same  time  his  proportion  of  corn 
from  renters  occupying  part  of  the  land  added 
about  twenty-four  tons  to  his  stock.  This  extra- 
ordinary success  won  for  him  the  appellation  of 
"  Broom  Corn  King,"  which  by  perseverance,  at- 
tended by  success,  he  has  since  held.  To  his  ex- 
tensive farming,  Mr.  Duncan  combines  the  work 
of  dealing  in  broom  corn,  in  which  business  he  is 
an  expert. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.   Duncan  are  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  named  as  follows:     Joseph;  Harper  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Grissom,  and  resides  in  Hum- 
bolt  Township;  Charles  married   Miss  Fannie  Ash- 
brook,  and  they  are  residents  of  Kansas;  William, 
Frank,  Jennie,  Minnie,  Alice,  Lavin,  Nellie,  Nettie, 
j   and  Samuel,  Jr.     Politically  Mr.  Duncan  is  a  pro- 
,    nounced  and  uncompromising  Democrat. 


ffi  OHN  A.  MAJOR,  deceased,  was  born  Dec. 
28,  1823,  in  Davis  County,  Ind.  He  was 
the  son  of  Robert  D.  and  Susan  (Allan) 
Major.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a 
successful  farmer  living  near  Cincinnati,  where  by 
dint  of  industry  and  energy  he  accumulated  a 
large  amount  of  property.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 

John  A.  Major  was  reared  on  the  farm,  receiv- 
ing a  common-school  education,  and  obtaining  a 
practical  knowledge  of  farming  pursuits.  May  8, 
1845,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  J. 
McAdams,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (McCoy) 
McAdams,  who  were  of  Scotch  ancestry.  Mrs. 
Major  was  born  July  20,  1825,  in  Jefferson  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  by  her  marriage  with  our  subject  be- 
came the  mother  of  ten  children,  only  eight  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Their  record  is  as  follows: 
Anna,  the  wife  of  A.  B.  Craycroft;  William  L., 
Alice,  May,  John  and  Jennie  (twins) ;  the  latter  is 
the  wife  of  George  Gibler;  Mattie  and  Grace. 
In  1854,  Mr.  Major  with  his  family,  three 


r 


562 


COLES   COUNTY. 


yoke  of  cattle  and  two  horses,  made  the  long 
journey  from  Indiana  to  Keokuk  County,  Iowa, 
where  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  near  Sigour- 
ney.  which  he  improved  and  cultivated  until  1856, 
when  tiring  of  farm  life,  he  bought  property  in 
Sigourney,  upon  which  he  built  a  large  hotel,  and 
also  dealt  in  real  estate,  which  investment  proved 
very  successful,  but  in  the  depression  of  business 
which  afterward  followed,  he  suffered  great  finan- 
cial loss.  In  1860  he  returned  with  his  family  to 
Indiana.  The  war  then  broke  out,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  dispose  of  his  property  at  a  great  sacri- 
fice. He  then  purchased  a  small,  but  pleasant  and 
comfortable  home  in  Indiana,  where  he  resided 
until  1868.  He  then  came  to  Illinois,  locating 
upon  a  farm  in  Coles  County,  remaining  there  until 
1871,  at  which  time  he  removed  into  the  city  of 
Mattoon,  where  he  remained^until  his  death,  which 
occurred  April  7,  1875. 

Mr.  Major  possessed  an  upright,  Christian  char- 
acter, and  for  many  years  was  a  devoted  member 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a 
faithful  attendant  of  its  prayer-meetings  and  Sab- 
bath-school, endeavoring  in  every  way  to  advance 
the  cause  of  Christ.  He  was  a  kind  husband,  an 
affectionate  father  and  loyal  citizen. 


.  A.  M.  HENRY,  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Academy  of  Mc-dicine  and  Surgery  of 
Coles  County,  isjoue  of  the  most  reliable 
practitioners  of  this  section,  and  has  been 
a  resident  of  Mattoon  since  1866.  His  birth  took 
place  in  Henry  County,  Ky.,  Nov.  8,  1814,  and  he 
is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (White)  Henry,  na- 
tives respectively  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  brickmason  by 
trade,  and  early  in  life  removed  from  his  native 
State  to  Kentucky,  becoming  a  resident  of  the  Blue 
Grass  regions  about  1808.  Later  he  migrated  to 
Illinois,  and  took  up  a  tract  of  Government  land 
six  miles  east  of  the  present  city  of  Charleston, 
where  he  improved  eighty  acres  and  established  a 
comfortable  home,  which  he  occupied  until  his 
death,  in  1833.  The  mother  survived  her  husband 
nearly  thirty-four  3'ears,  and  died  in  1867. 


The  Henry  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry, 
and  of  the  ten  children  born  to  the  parents  of  our 
subject,  only  two  are  now  living,  himself  and  his 
brother,  Judge  John  VV.  Henry,  of  Los  Angeles, 
Cal.  Joseph  Henry  was  a  man  of  much  force  of 
character,  a  decided  Democrat,  politically,  and  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  in 
which  he  officiated  as  Class-Leader  and  Exhorter. 
The  mother  was  also  a  lady  of  deep  piety,  and  a 
member  of  the  same  church  as  her  husband. 

The  early  years  of  Dr.  Henry  were  spent  on  a 
farm,  and  he  also  worked  with  his  father  as  a  ma- 
son. He  was  thirty  years  of  age  when  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  at  Platteville,  Wis., 
and  afterward  attended  the  old  Botanic  College  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  commenced  practice  in  Wis- 
consin, from  which  he  removed,  however,  in  1849, 
to  Jersey  ville,  this  State,  and  after  a  short  residence 
there,  practiced  for  a  time  at  Charleston,  and  in 
1866  came  to  Mattoou,  where  he  has  .since  re- 
mained. While  in  Charleston  he  had  patients  in 
Edgar,  Clark,  Cumberland  and  Shelby  Counties. 
He  at  one  time  owned  considerable  land  in  Coles 
County. 

Dr.  Henry  was  married,  in  1839,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Stoddard,  at  that  time  a  resident  of  Charles- 
ton, but  who  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1821.  They 
became  the  parents  of  five  children,  who  are  lo 
cated  as  follows:  Mary  A.,  Mrs.  Hamilton,  in 
Portland,  Ore. ;  Ellen,  Mrs.  Tillison,  in  Mattoon; 
Sarah  M.,  Mrs.  Matlock,  in  Chicago;  Blanche  is 
married,  and  living  in  Portland,  Ore.;  Grace,  Mrs. 
Richmond,  lives  in  Mattoon.  The  Doctor  and  his 
estimable  lady  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  occupy  a  pleasant  residence  at 
the  corner  of  Charleston  and  Seventh  streets.  Dr. 
II.,  politically,  is  a  Republican,  and  socially,  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


OSES  H.  LUCE  became  a  resident  of  this 
county  in  February,  1860,  and  is  one  of 
its  most  enterprising  citizens.  He  is  located 
in  East  Oakland  Township  on  sec.  33,  where 
he  has  seventy  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  all  the 
improvements  which  indicate  the  intelligent  and 


t. 


COLES  COUNTY. 


563 


progressive  agriculturist.  Although  his  life,  per- 
haps, has  not  been  distinguished  by  any  thrilling 
experience,  he  is  one  of  those  men  necessary  to  the 
well-being  of  any  community,  who  form  its  bone 
and  sinew,  and  without  whom  the  fabric  of  society 
would  become  disjointed  and  lacking  in  its  most 
essential  points. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
first  opening  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  Darke  County, 
in  September,  1819.  His  parents,  Moses  and  Cath- 
erine (Perry)  Luce,  were  natives  respectively  of 
Virginia  and  South  Carolina.  Moses  Luce,  Sr.,  was 
born  in  1785,  served  as  Captain  in  the  War  of 
1812  for  about  three  months,  and  afterward  settled 
in  Ohio  at  an  early  period  in  its  history.  He  came 
to  this  county  after  his  marriage,  and  to  Oakland 
Township  in  1837,  where  his  death  took  place  the 
following  year.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  piety,  and 
occupied  the  pulpit  of  the  Baptist  Church  as  a 
preacher  for  about  sixteen  years,  and  was  also  an 
Elder  in  the  same.  His  wife,  Catherine,  was  born 
in  1788,  and  died 'in  Indiana,  Sept.  12,  1844.  Their 
children  were  Elizabeth,  Dorcas  A.,  John,  Sarah, 
Phebe,  Silas;  Catherine,  Sophia,  Moses  H.,  William, 
Robert  and  Benjamin.  They  all  lived  to  become 
men  and  women,  and  four  at  this  date  (July  19, 
1887),  are  still  surviving. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  and 
youth  under  the  parental  roof,  receiving  careful 
training  from  his  excellent  parents,  and  an  ordinary 
education  in  the  common  schools.  Upon  starting 
out  in  life  on  his  own  account,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Thornton  and  Collie 
(Pace)  Lansdown,  their  wedding  taking  place  in 
Edgar  County,  Feb.  8,  1844.  Mrs.  Luce  was  born 
in  Tennessee,  May  23,  1823.  Her  parents  were  de- 
voted members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church, 
and  reared  a  large  family  of  children. 

Of  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Luce  there  was 
born  but  one  child,  a  girl,  who  died  in  infancy. 
The  parental  feeling  has  been  strong  within  them, 
and  in  the  absence  of  children  of  their  own,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  L.  have  performed  the  offices  of  protector 
and  guardian  to  four  orphan  children  whom  they 
raised  as  their  own,  and  gave  all  the  advantages 
within  their  power. 

Mr.    L.    has    been    connected    with   the   Baptist 


Church  for  a  period  of  thirty-six  years,  during 
which  he  has  officiated  as  Deacon,  and  occupied 
other  prominent  positions  among  the  brethren.  He 
is  a  gentleman  of  excellent  judgment,  and  one 
whose  opinions  are  generally  respected.  Politically 
he  is  a  Jacksonian  Democrat,  and  believes  that  the 
stanch  old  principles,  strictly  followed,  are  better 
than  any  modern  ones  which  could  be  introduced. 
Mrs.  Luce  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  home 
in  May,  1866,  and  in  all  respects  is  the  worth}'  com- 
panion of  her  husband,  encouraging  him  in  his 
efforts,  and  proving  a  true  helpmeet,  as  they 
1  journey  along  the  changing  pathway  of  life. 


I 

•P 


\w/OHN  T.  HUFFMAN  is  the  senior  member 
of  Huffman  <fe  Bro.,  manufacturers  of  brick 
at  Charleston.  He  is  a  native  of  Coles 
County,  and  the  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Robinson)  Huffman,  who  have  been  for  years 
well-known  citizens  of  Coles  County.  Mr.  Huff- 
man's educational  advantages  were  limited  to  the 
common  schools,  and  his  life,  until  he  attained  to 
manhood,  was  devoted  to  work  upon  the  farm.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  associated  himself 
with  his  brother,  Napoleon  B.,  in  the  business  of 
manufacturing  brick,  which,  on  account  of  the 
rapid  improvement  of  Charleston,  and  the  great 
number  of  brick  houses  being  erected  throughout 
Coles  County,  has  been  for  many,  years  a  staple 
article  of  trade.  They  continued  in  the  brick  busi- 
ness during  a  period  of  eleven  years,  and  then  sold 
out  to  W.  S.  Coon.  During  the  following  six  years 
Mr.  Huffman  gave  his  attention  to  the  duties  of 
public  office  and  farming,  and  then  again  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  brick,  the  firm  being  con- 
stituted of  himself  and  brother  George,  and  during 
the  year  1887  the  firm  has  manufactured  1,000,000 
of  brick,  all  of  marketable  quality,  and  which  were 
disposed  of  to  good  advantage. 

Mr.  Huffman  is  a  successful  and  reliable  business 
man,  and  in  addition  to  his  manufacturing  inter- 
ests is  the  owner  of  fifty-seven  acres  of  land,  which 
was  first  purchased  by  his  father,  and  which  adjoins 
the  city  limits  of  Charleston  on  the  west.  On  ac- 
count of  its  close  promimity  to  the  city,  und  the 


I 


-I 


564 


COLES   COUNTY. 


fact  that  not  many  years  hence  it  will  be  occupied 
by  buildings  and  streets,  this  land  is  considered 
very  valuable.  Like  his  father,  Mr.  Huffman  is 
Democratic  in  his  politics,  and  for  sixteen  consec- 
utive years  has  held  the  office  of  Constable.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  both  of  the  Subordinate 
Lodge  and  the  Encampment,  and  also  of  the  Pa- 
triarchal Circle. 

On  the  1  4th  of  August,  1871,  Mr.  Huffman  was 
married  to  Amanda  E.  Redden,  a  native  of  Coles 
County.  She  was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Mar- 
garet L.  Redden,  who  were  pioneers  in  the  settle- 
ment and  development  of  the  county.  Their 
household  has  been  blest  with  five  children,  whose 
names  are  Nora  B.,  Frank  A.,  Eva  E.,  Clarence  and 
Jessie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  are  the  center  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends,  by  whom  they  are  highly 
esteemed  and  with  whom  they  take  pleasure  in 
participating  in  social  matters. 


VKOMETHEUS  M.  DUVALL,  M.  D.,  is  a 
prominent  surgeon  of  Pleasant  Grove 
Township,  residing  in  Campbell.  He  is 
the  son  of  James  W.  and  Melinda  W. 
(Colvin)  Duvall,  and  was  born  July  23,  1853,  in 
Pendleton  County,  Ky.  His  family  is  of  French 
extraction,  although  his  grandparents  and  parents 
were  born  in  Virginia.  The  family  subsequently 
removed  to  Kentucky,  and  from  boyhood  James 
W.  Duvall  passed  his  life  in  that  State.  He  was 
a  bridge-builder,  and  continued  to  follow  that  occu- 
pation throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  life. 
Mrs.  Duvall  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  her 
family  was  of  English  extraction;  her  mariiage 
took  place  in  that  State.  Their  family  comprised 
five  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Prometheus  M.  and  Daniel  B.  James  Duvall  died 
in  Kentucky  at  the  age  of  sixty-two,  and  his  widow 
died  in  this  county,  in  1887,  having  also  reached 
the  age  of  sixty-two  years. 

Dr.  Duvall  passed  his  early  life  in  Kentucky, 
where  he  received  an  excellent  education  at  the 
public  schools,  and  also  attended  the  Wesleyan 
University  at  Millersburg.  He  was  a  remarkably 
ingenious  and  thoughtful  boy,  always  desiring  to 


thoroughly  investigate  every  subject  of  importance 
that  came  under  his  notice.  He  had  been  taught 
the  carpenter's  trade,  but  his  inclination  for 
scientific  research  led  him  in  another  direction,  and 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine,  at  the  same  time  continuing  to  work  at 
his  trade  for  support.  It  is  frequently  from  such 
minds  that  science  develops  her  most  worthy  dis- 
ciples. He  applied  himself  closely  to  the  study 
of  his  chosen  profession,  and  in  1877  was  graduated 
by  the  Kentucky  School  of  Medicine  at  Louisville. 
In  1875  Dr.  D.  became  a  resident  of  this  county, 
and  after  his  graduation  was  associated  in  practice 
with  Dr.  Freeman  for  two  years.  He  then  opened 
an  office,  and  has  since  commanded  a  large  and 
lucrative-practice.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  sur- 
gery, and  has  met  with  marked  success  in  that  de- 
partment of  medical  science,  his  practice  extending 
over  a  large  territory.  He  is  also  a  genius  in  some 
other  respects,  and  like  Sir  Humphrey  Davy,  some- 
times manufactures  his  own  tools.  He  owns  some 
valuable  real  estate,  and  his  commodious  residence, 
barn  and  stables  are  all  specimens  of  his  own 
handiwork.  He  is  exact  and  systematic  in  his 
habits,  and  everything  he  undertakes  is  well  done ; 
his  surgical  instruments  are  kept  exquisitely  clean 
and  in  perfect  order,  and  his  carpenter  tools  like- 
wise. He  is  fond  of  horses,  and  is  to  some  extent 
interested  in  raising  them. 

Dr.  Duvall  was  married  in  1880.  to  Miss  Sarah 
I  E.  Watson.  Mrs.  Duvall  is  the  daughter  of  Joseph 
M.  and  Hannah  W.  Watson,  and  was  born  Aug.  15, 
1854,  in  Pendleton  County,  Ky.  Two  children 
were  born  to  them,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Dr.  Duvall  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
is  a  member  of  Charleston  Lodge  No.  35.  In 
politics  he  'is  a  Democrat. 


R.  D.  M.  FALL,  physician  and  surgeon, 
and  President  of  the  Coles  County  Medi- 
cal Society,  has  been  a  resident  of  Mat- 
toon  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years, 
during  which  he  has  built  up  a  successful  practice 
and  has  become  one  of  its  most  prominent  citizens. 
He  was  born  in  Shelby  County,  Ind.,  July  I,  1835, 


t. 


COLES   COUNTY. 


56$ 


i 


and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  P.  and  Nancy  A.  (Miller) 
Fall,  natives  of  Botetourt'  County,  Va.,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  farming  and  was  married  in  1822. 
Ten  years  later  the  parents  removed  to  Shelby 
County,  Ind.,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives,  Thomas  P.  Fall  passing  to  his  final  rest 
in  1883.  The  mother  had  died  many  years  before, 
in  1852.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  Democrat, 
politically,  until  within  a  'short  time  before  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  and  then 
identified  himself  with  the  latter.  Both  parents 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
in  which  the  father  served  as  Steward  and  Class- 
Leader.  Their  family  included  five  sons  and  one 
daughter,  and  two  sons  only  of  the  family  are  now 
living,  namely,  our  subject,  and  his  brother, 
Benjamin  F.,  a  lumber  merchant  of  Pauldiug 
County,  Ohio. 

The  Fall  family  is  of  Irish  and  German  ancestry. 
Our  subject  was  reared  amid  the  scenes  of  farm  life 
until  a  youth  of  eighteen  years,  in  the  meantime 
attending  the  district  school  during  the  winter 
terms.  He  then  went  to  Morristown  in  his  native 
county,  and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  un- 
der the  instruction  of  Dr.  J.  G.  Wolf,  with  whom 
he  remained  three  years.  In  the  meantime  he 
attended  two  courses  of  lectures  at  Rush  Medical 
College,  Chicago,  and  completed  his  studies  in 
Jefferson  Medical  College,  at  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
from  which  he  was  graduated  as  an  M.  D.  Return- 
ing West  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Cumberland,  Ind.,  whence  he  removed 
in  the  fall  of  1862  to  Mattoon,  where  he  has  since 
remained.  He  belongs  to  the  State  Medical  Society, 
and  by  a  steady  course  of  reading  keeps  himself 
well  informed  upon  the  important  matters  pertain- 
ing to  his  profession. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Fall  and  Miss  Helen  M. 
Morrison  was  celebrated  in  1856,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  three  sons,  the  two  eldest  being  also 
practicing  physicians.  James  A.  married  Miss 
Mary  F.  Van  Daren.  The  others  are  Howard  M. 
and  Leslie.  Mrs.  Fall  was  born  in  Shelby  County, 
Ind.,  and  is  the  daughter  of  George  L.  and  Jane 
(Allison)  Morrison.  Her  father  for  several  years 
was  engaged  in  the  furniture  business.  In  1875 
Dr.  Fall  purchased  his  present  residence,  which  is 


located  at  the  corner  of  Charleston  and  East  First 
streets.  It  forms  a  pleasant  and  attractive  home, 
and  is  frequented  by  the  cultivated  residents  of 
Mattoon.  The  Doctor  and  his  estimable  lady  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
our  subject,  politically,  is  a  decided  Republican. 


OHN  HOOTS,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
North  Okaw  Township,  came  to  this  sec- 
tion of  country  when,  as  he  says,  "the  prin- 
cipal productions  were  wolves,  rattlesnakes 
and  badgers."  He  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty 
acres,  and  in  connection  with  this  also  carried  on 
farming  on  land  adjacent,  which  had  been  partially 
improved.  In  the  meantime  he  put  up  a  house  on 
his  own  land,  of  which  he  and  his  young  wjfe  took 
possession,  and  commenced  in  earnest  the  struggle 
of  life  in  a  new  country.  This  was  long  before  the 
advent  of  railroads,  and  the  nearest  milling  facili- 
ties were  at  Decatur  and  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
Charleston  was  then  but  an  embryo  village,  and  Mr. 
H.  was  acquainted  with  every  man  in  it.  There 
was  no  market  for  corn,  and  they  consequently  fed 
it  to  their  hogs.  These  were  transported  on  foot 
to  market,  to  Chicago,  Terre  Haute  and  St.  Louis, 
and  then  they  brought  but  $1.25  per  hundred. 

Those  were  days  which  truly  "tried  men's  souls," 
and  the  changes  which  Mr.  Hoots,  in  common  with 
his  brother  pioneers,  has  witnessed,  might  form  the 
thetne  of  a  tale  which  would  amply  prove  that  truth 
is  stranger  than  fiction.  Our  subject  was  made  of 
the  stern  stuff  common  to  the  men  of  those  days, 
and  persevered  through  every  difficulty  until  he  had 
established  a  comfortable  homestead  where  a  bloom- 
ing family  grew  up  around  him.  He  is  now  retired 
from  active  labor,  living  perhaps  as  much  in  the 
past  as  in  the  present,  and  many  a  time  regales  the 
present  generation  with  stories  of  the  olden  days. 
He  has  lived  worthily  and  enjoys  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  who  know  him. 

Mr.  Hoots  was  born  in  Stokes  County,  N.   C., 

Dec.   12,   1816,  and    is  the  eldest   in   a  family  of 

eleven  children,  the   offspring  of  David  and  Sarah 

(Wright)  Hoots,  also  natives  of  that  State.     David 

j    Hoots  was  a  farmer  by   occupation,  and  spent  his 


f 


-I 


566 


COLES   COUNTY. 


entire  life  in  North  Carolina.  Our  subject  was 
reared  there  on  a  farm  in  a  region  of  country  which 
afforded  very  few  facilities  for  learning,  and  his 
education  was  consequently  sadly  neglected.  Upon 
reaching  his  majority  lie  began  farming  for  himself, 
which  he  sensibly  pursued  four  years,  unmarried, 
and  laid  the  foundations  for  a  future  home.  He 
was  then  united  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Fuller,  Sept.  22, 
1841.  Mrs.  Hoots  is  the  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Catherine  (Webb)  Fuller,  natives  of  Virginia,  who 
emigrated  to  North  Carolina  at  an  early  day. 

Our  subject  removed  from  his  native  State  to 
Indiana  with  his  parents,  settling  in  Montgome-y 
Count}'  in  1824,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
and  in  1837  took  up  his  abode  in  this  county,  one 
mile  from  his  present  homestead,  and  in  this  vicin- 
ity he  met  the  lady  who  afterward  became  his 
wife.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  thirteen  chil- 
dren, nine  still  living.  The}'  were  named  respect- 
ively, William  Augustus,  Albert  Henry,  Sarah 
Catherine,  Mary  Ann,  David  F.,  John  J.  and  Robert 
Jesse  (twins),  Rebecca  J.,  Orlando  B.,  Ida,  Josiah, 
Sidney  J.  and  Miranda. 


/REEDOM  E.  HOBART,  whose  home  is  on 
section  21,  Seven  Hickory  Township,  has 
been  engaged  in  the  occupations  of  both 
farmer  and  school  teacher.  He  was  born  on  the 
16th  of  September,  1847,  in  Nelson  Township, 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  his  parents  being  John  Sul- 
livan and  Margaret  (Moore)  Hobart.  John  S. 
Hobart  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Wheeler)  Hobart,  and  was  born  on  the  25th  of 
November,  1806,  in  New  Hampshire,  and  with  his 
father  and  grandfather,  William,  moved  from  New 
Hampshire  to  Ohio  about  1814.  He  was  a  school 
^eacher  in  his  early  days,  but  was  afterward  var- 
iously employed  in  farming  and  merchandising. 
He  was  married  twice;  the  first  time  to  Margaret 
Moore,  on  the  10th  of  December,  1834,  and  she 
had  nine  children:  Thomas  Moore,  born  Sept.  6, 
1835;  Benjamin  Elmer,  June  23,  1837;  Mary 
Elizabeth,  born  June  7,  1839,  married  Monroe  W. 


Seibert,  of  Fremont,  Ohio;  Jefferson  R.,  born 
Feb.  20,  1841,  is  a  physician  in  Ashmore,  111.; 
William  Wallace,  born  April  20,  1 843,  is  a  resident 
of  Miami  County,  Ohio;  Marcene,  born  Aug.  10, 
1845,  resides  in  Pembcrville,  Ohio;  Freedom  E., 
our  subject,  born  Sept.  16,  1847;  Hannah,  born 
Nov.  8,  1849,  married  James  Thompson,  and  botli 
are  deceased;  they  lelt  two  children.  Marcellus, 
born  June  15,  1852,  is  a  resident  of  Fremont,  Ohio. 

The  first  wife  of  John  S.  Hobart  died  on  the 
29th  of  October,  1856,  and  he  was  again  married, 
this  time  to  Mrs.  A.  C.  Alton,  on  the  1st  of  March, 
1858.  By  this  marriage  three  children  were  born: 
Addison  and  Allison,  who  are  twins,  and  John  S., 
Jr.  His  children,  twelve  in  number,  were  all 
fairly  educated,  and  at  some  time  in  their  life  all 
taught  school.  One  child,  Mary  E.,  is  a  graduate 
of  Oberlin  College,  and  three  of  the  sons  are  grad- 
ates of  commercial  colleges,  and  three  of  medical 
institutions.  One  of  the  children,  Thomas  M.,  has 
been  admitted  to  the  bar  as  a  lawyer,  but  does  not 
engage  in  active  practice.  William  Wallace  Hobart, 
brother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  for  about  three  years 
and  three  months,  and  participated  in  several. im- 
portant engagements.  Benjamin  E.  and  Marcene, 
two  other  brothers,  were  also  in  the  Union  army. 

Benjamin  Hobart,  the  grandfather,  was  the  son 
of  William  and  Sallie  (Taylor)  Hobart,  and  was 
born  on  the  12th  of  March,  1777,  at  Thornton, 
N.  H.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
is  buried  at  the  Hurd  burying-ground,  in  Nelson, 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  where  our  subject's  father, 
mother  and  grandmother  are  also  buried.  The  pa- 
ternal great-grandfather,  William  Hobart,  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  his  remains  are 
buried  in  Windhatn,  Portage  Co.,  Ohio. 

Freedom  E.  Hobart  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and 
availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  to  attend  the 
district  school  during  the  winter  months  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Ober- 
lin, Ohio,  and  attended  school  about  three  mouths; 
then  he  commenced  teaching  school,  and  followed 
that  occupation  in  Ohio  for  two  years,  and  in  July, 
1868,  came  to  Illinois,  where  he  taught  a  country 
school  during  the  winter,  and  farmed  in  the  sum- 
mer mouths.  In  the  spring  of  1870  he  went  to 


r 


COLES  COUNTY. 


56' 


Kansas,  where  he  homesteaded  160  acres  of  land, 
and  returned  to  Illinois  to  teach  school  during  the 
following  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1871  he  went 
back  to  Kansas,  and  turned  the  homestead  into  a 
pre-emption,  receiving  a  deed  from  the  Govern- 
ment, and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  returned  to 
Illinois,  where  he  again  taught  school  during  the  win- 
ter. In  the  spring  of  1873  he  attended  school  at 
the  Normal  University  at  Normal,  111.,  and  the  fol- 
lowing winter  again  taught  school  and  conducted 
a  Teachers' Institute  at  Neoga,  in  the  summer  of 
1 874.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  again  attended 
school  at  Normal,  and  remained  until  the  following 
June,  this  being  the  only  winter  in'which  he  omit- 
ted teaching  from  the  fall  of  1866  to  the  spring  of 
1887.  In  the  summer  of  1875  he  again  conducted 
a  Teachers'  Institute  at  Neoga,  during  which  time 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Finley  McNutt, 
which  event  occurred  on  the  29th  of  July,  1875. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Susan  (McCul- 
lough)  McNutt,  of  Neoga. 

James  McNutt  was  born  in  Blount  County,  E. 
Tenn.,  in  1808;  Susan  McCullough  was  born  in  the 
same  county,  Aug.  20,  1814;  they  were  married  in 
1833,  and  immediately  moved  to  Edgar  County, 
111.  Here  were  born  to  them  eight  children :  Nar- 
cissa  E.,  born  Aug.  27,  1834,  was  married  to  Jona- 
than B.  Morrison  in  September,  1 854,  and  is  now 
living  near  Neoga,  Cumberland  Co.,  111.;  Robert 
was  born  Feb.  1,  1837,  married  Eliza  H.  Gale,  Dec. 
24,  1868,  and  is  now  living  in  Neoga,  111.;  Frances 
M.,  born  Feb.  8,  1840,  was  married  to  John  T. 
Waller,  June  8,  1865,  and  is  now  living  in  Louis- 
ville, Ky. ;  Asa  was  born  Oct.  16,  1842,  enlisted  in 
the  66th  Illinois  Infantry  in  the  fall  of  1861,  and 
died  in  March,  1862.  from  cold  contracted  by  ex- 
posure at  the  battle  of  Ft.  Donelson ;  Houston  was 
born  April  1,  1845,  and  died  in  the  spring  of  1847; 
Melinda  was  born  Feb.  15,  1848,  and  was  married 
to  Philip  Welshimer  Nov.  26,  1872,  and  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Neoga,  III.;  Florence  was  born  Feb.  11, 
1851,  married  to  Louis  A.  Fairchilds  Sept.  3,  1872, 
and  died  at  Smith  Centre,  Smith  Co.,  Kan.,  Oct. 
7,  1881.  Sarah  F.  was  born  Oct.  17,  1853,  and  was 
married  to  F.  E.  Hobart  July  29,  1875.  The  fam- 
ily moved  from  Edgar  County  to  near  Neoga, 
Cumberland  County,  in  the  spring  of  1854.  James 


McNutt  died  there  in  the  spring  of  1857;  his  wife, 
Susa'n  McNutt,  is  still  living  at  Neoga,  now  aged 
seventy-three. 

Mr.  Hobart  followed  teaching  in  the  winter  and 
farmed  at  the  McNutt  homestead  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1876,  when  on  account  of  the  'excessive 
rains  he  did  not  raise  anything  and  lost  all  the 
money  which  he  had.  He  again  taught  during  the 
winter  and  farmed  rented  land  in  the  years  1877 
and  1878,  these  farming  operations  being  losing 
ones.  In  the  spring  of  1879  Albert  Wyeth,  a 
friend  of  his,  furnished  the  money  to  purchase 
fifty  acres  of  land,  where  our  subject's  home  is 
now  located.  From  that  time  on  he  was  moder- 
ately successful  in  his  undertakings,  and  by  means 
of  the  farm  and  the  money  earned  by  himself  and 
wife,  who  was  also  a  teacher,  they  succeeded  in 
meeting  the  payments  on  their  little  farm.  In 
1882  he  was  employed  as  Principal  of  the  High 
School  at  Charleston,  where  he  remained  one  year, 
during  which  time  he  was  chosen  as  Principal  and 
Superintendent,  and  his  wife  as  First  Assistant  of 
the  public  schools  at  Oakland,  111.  He  remained 
there  one  year,  and  was  then  elected  to  a  similar 
position  in  Casey,  Clark  County,  and  in  this  work 
he  was  also  assisted  by  his  wife.  This  position  was 
retained  for  two  years,  and  during  that  time  he  also 
carried  on  his  farming  operations.  In  the  spring 
of  1883,  while  living  at  Charleston,  he  sold  his  Kan- 
sas land,  and  in  company  with  his  brother,  Dr.  J.  R. 
Hobart,  bought  a  stock  of  drugs  at  Ashmore.  111., 
which  was  taken  charge  of  by  his  brother,  and  our 
subject  continued  teaching.  In  1886  he  was  elected 
Superintendent  and  Principal  of  the  schools  at 
Kansas,  Edgar  County,  where  he  remained  one  year. 
In  the  summer  of  that  year  Mr.  Hobart  was  in- 
structor at  the  Annual  Institution  at  Oakland, 
Coles  County,  and  also  at  Marshall,  Clark  County. 
In  the  summer  of  1883  he  carried  off  a  prize  at  a 
competitive  examination  in  United  States  History 
at  Fremont,  Ohio.  In  1886  he  sold  his  interest  in 
the  drug  store  to  his  brother,  Dr.  J.  R.  Hobart.  In 
August,  1887,  he  took  a  position  with  Chapman 
Brothers,  of  Chicago,  as  a  biographical  writer. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hobart  have  had  three  children, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy ;  the  two  living  are 
Mary  Florence,  born  the  1st  of  June,  1876,  and  at 


568 


COLES  COUNTY. 


the  age  of  ten  entered  the  High  School  at  Kansas. 
111. ;  she  has  dark  eyes  and  brown  hair.  Maude 
Finley,  born  May  24,  1880,  has  blue  eyes  and 
golden  hair.  Mrs.  Hobart  has  black  hair  and 
brown  eyes,  and  is  of  a  pleasant  disposition.  She 
is  an  excellent  scholar  and  writes  a  good  hand. 

Mr.  Hobart  has  a  good  education,  and  in  his 
conversation  and  writing  sho-ws  that  he  is  master  of 
the  English  language.  He  was  early  imbued  with 
the  doctrines  of  the  Congregational  Church,  but 
when  he  was  about  nineteen  years  of  age  he  joined 
the  Missionary  Baptist  Church;  upon  coming  to 
Illinois  he  gave  his  letter  from  that  denomination  to 
the  Christian  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member 
ever  since.  He  is  about  five  feet  and  eight  and  one- 
half  incHes  in  height,  rather  heavily  built,  has  au- 
burn hair,  gray  eyes,  and  while  naturally  inclined  to 
be  social,  yet  on  account  of  the  firmness  required 
in  the  school  room  has  been  termed  reticent,  and  to 
a  certain  degree  unsocial.  He  has  always  been  a 
rigid  temperance  man,  and  although  raised  by  a 
Republican  father,  and'  surrounded  by  Republican 
relatives,  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat.  He  has 
recently  purchased  the  interest  of  half  the  heirs  to 
his  father's  estate  in  Ohio,  all  of  which  indicates 
that  his  successes  in  later  life  are  more  nearly  com- 
mensurate with  his  deserts  than  in  earlier  life. 


¥~;ILLIAM  MILLER,  deceased,  a  former 
highly  respected  resident  of  North  Okaw 
Township,  is  kindly  remembered  as  one  of 
its  early  pioneers.  He  came  to  this  section  of 
country  during  its  first  settlement,  and  taking  up  a 
tract  of  uncultivated  land  began  its  improvement 
and  cultivation,  and  bravely  endured  the  hardships 
and  difficulties  which  were  the  common  lot  of  those 
venturesome  spirits  who  entered  the  wilderness  and 
first  opened  a  way  for  the  advance  of  civilization. 
Mr.  Miller  was  born  near  Lexington,  Ky.,  in 
1822,  and  was  the  fifth  child  in  a  family  of  nine,  the 
offspring  of  James  and  Sarah  (O'Hara)  Miller,  also 
natives  of  the  Blue  Grass  State.  They  came  north 
when  their  son  William  was  but  a  boy,  locating 
first  in  Paris,  Edgar  County,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  da3's.  William  was  educated  in 


the  common  schools,  and  at  an  early  age  was  made 
acquainted  with  the  various  employments  of  farm 
life,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof  until  about 
twenty-three  years  of  age. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1845,  Mr.  Miller  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rebecca  G.  Janes, 
who  was  the  fourteenth  in  a  family  of  sixteen  chil- 
dren, born  to  William  and  Jane  (Nichols)  Janes, 
natives  respectively  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky. 
Mrs.  Miller  was  born  in  Edgar  County,  Ky.,  De- 
cember 25,  1829,  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
Coles  County,  where  her  marriage  took  place.  For 
a  time  they  resided  in  Edgar  County  on  a  small 
farm,  and  upon  coming  to  Coles  County,  Mr.  Miller 
entered  120  acres  of  wild  land,  which  comprised 
forty  acres  on  three  sections.  He  put  his  residence 
on  section  23,  and  the  first  field  crop  was  three  miles 
from  his  home.  Around  the  dwelling  a  crop  of  sod 
corn  flourished,  and  deer  would  come  to  the  door- 
yard  and  gaze  at  the  unusual  sight  of  human  be- 
ings. This  little  diversion  from  their  usual  monot- 
onous life  was  valued  by  the  family  accordingly, 
for  their  neighbors  were  few  and  far  between,  there 
being  then  not  a  single  house  between  their  home 
and  Charleston,  where  they  went  twice  a  year  to  do 
their  trading.  Mattoon  was  not  yet  thought  of, 
and  when  Mr.  Miller  went  to  mill  his  wife  was 
obliged  to  set  a  candle  in  the  window  as  a  beacon 
light  to  guide  him  after  dark. 

The  life  of  the  father,  however,  was  cut  short  in 
his  prime,  his  death  taking  place  on  the  3d  of 
March,  1 855.  He  was  a  prodigous  worker,  and  the 
exposure  and  hardships  to  which  he  was  subjected 
brought  on  inflammatory  rheumatism,  which  proved 
fatal  not  long  afterward.  The  mother  was  thus  left 
a  widow  with  five  children,  whom  she  kept  together, 
and  struggled  on  until  the  dawn  of  brighter  days. 
Two  of  these  died  in  infancy.  Those  living  are 
recorded  as  follows:  Sarah  was  born  Sept.  4,  1850, 
and  married  Martin  Wagoner,  and  they  live  near 
the  old  homestead.  Josephine  was  born  Nov.  30, 
1853,  and  became  the  wife  of  Craven  E.  Cole,  who 
is  now  deceased;  she  resides  in  Shelby  County. 
Joseph,  who  was  born  Jan.  10,  1855,  was  conse- 
quently but  an  infant  of  a  few  weeks  old  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death.  He  was  reared  to  man- 
hood and  married  Miss  Nancy  J.  Crum.  He  re- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


569 


mains  on  the  homestead  with  his  widowed  mother, 
and  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- raising. 

On  the  9th  of  January,  1880,  the  family  residence, 
with  all  its  contents,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  In  its 
place  now  stands  a  neat  little  cottage  occupied  by 
Mrs.  Miller,  her  son  Joseph  and  his  family. 


M.  SCHULHOFF,  of  the  firm  of  Bower  & 
Schulhoff,  proprietors  of  the  popular  "Fair," 
formerly  the  Boston  Variety  Store,  in  Mat- 
toon,  is  a  native  of  the  city  of  Nyireghyhaza,  Hun- 
gary, and  was  born  on  the  24th  of  December,  1861. 
He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Fanny  (Pavlovits) 
Schulhoff,  who  were  natives  of  the  same  place.  The 
father  was  engaged  extensively  in  farming,  and  was 
one  of  the  influential  citizens  of  the  place.  He  was 
a  soldier  and  Captain  in  the  Revolutionary  War  of 
1848-49,  and  during  that  time  was  taken  as  a 
prisoner  of  war  and  held  for  a  considerable  time. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  raised  in  the  city 
and  received  a  good  practical  education.  At  the  age 
of  twelve  years  he  accepted  a  position  in  a  gentle- 
men and  ladies'  furnishing  house,  where  he  re- 
mained for  seven  years,  and  during  that  time  re- 
ceived his  first  practical  knowledge  of  business 
affairs.  In  1880  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  first 
settled  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  at,  which  place  he  com- 
menced selling  goods  by  sample  on  the  road,  and 
in  that  business  continued  for  two  years.  In  1883 
lie  came  to  Mattoon,  and  in  connection  with  the 
gentleman  with  whom  he  is  now  associated,  began 
the  business  which  has  grown  to  such  dimensions 
as  to  require  the  services  of  from  five  to  ten  sales- 
men. He  is  practically  a  self-made  man,  and  his 
start  in  life  was  without  assistance  from  others.  In 
his  business  affairs  he  displays  a  vast  amount  of 
tact  and  energy,  and  leaves  no  stone  unturned  in 
his  efforts  for  success.  The  firm  of  which  he  is  a 
member  is  considered  one  of  the  most  reliable  and 
energetic  in  Coles  County,  and  it  has  already  taken 
its  place  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  mercantile  firms 
in  that  section  of  Illinois. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Schulhoff  died  in  1865,  the 
supposed  cause  of  his  death  being  wounds  which  he 
re.ceived  while  in  the  army.  The  mother  is  still 


living  in  Hungary.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
sons,  five  of  whom  are  now  living:  Jacob  is  en- 
gaged in  hotel-keeping  in  his  native  land;  Paul  is  a 
distiller  in  Hungary ;  Maurice  was  born  in  1859, 
and  died  in  1865;  Charles  and  Adolph  came  to 
America  in  1881 ;  the  former  is  in  the  tin  business 
in  New  York,  and  Adolph  is  engaged  in  railroading 
in  that  State;  Francis  M.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  The  father  and  all  the  members  of  the 
family  were  brought  up  in  the  faith  of  .the  Hebrew 
Church,  of  which  they  were  all  devoted  members. 
All  the  children  who  are  alive  have  identified  them- 
selves with  business  affairs,  and  all  of  them  have 
been  successful  in  their  undertakings. 

Mr.  Schulhoff  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He 
takes  great  interest  in  the  work  of  secret  societies, 
and  is  a  Mason  in  good  standing  and  a  member  of 
the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor.  In  all  his  social 
relations  he  is  pleasant  and  affable,  and  has  already 
drawn  to  himself  in  Mattoon  and  Coles  County  a 
large  circle  of  friends. 


AVID  F.  McMURTRIE,  of  the  firm  of  Mc- 
Murtrie &  Goodman,  contractors  and 
builders,  of  Charleston,  is  a  native  of  Ly- 
coming  County,  Pa.,  and  was  born  on  the 
20th  of  January,  1836.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel 
and  Elizabeth  (Pensil)  McMurtrie,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Union  County,  Pa.,  the  father  being  born 
in  1796,  and  the  mother  in  1808.  The  name  of  the 
grandfather  was  John,  who  was  born  in  Scotland, 
and  came  to  America  prior  to  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  in  which  he  was  wounded  in  the  left  leg 
by  a  sabre  cut.  The  father  of  the  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Joseph  Pensil,  a  native  of  England,  who 
came  to  America  while  it  was  yet  a  colony,  and 
was  engaged  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  paternal  grandfather  had  a  family  of  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters,  and  the  maternal  grand- 
father had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. Samuel  McMurtrie,  the  father,  was  a  boot 
and  shoe  maker  by  trade,  which  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed all  his  life.  He  died  in  1883,  and  the  mother 


4- 


±    570 


COLES   COUNTY. 


in  1856;  they  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  in  which  denomination  he  was  a 
Class-Leader.  They  were  thejiarents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  lived  to  attain  man  and 
womanhood. 

Until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  David  F.  Mc- 
Murtrie  attended  school  during  the  winter  months, 
and  at  that  age  went  to  work  in  a  woolen  factory  in 
Union  County,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years.  He  then  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
years  to  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Milton,  Northum- 
berland County,  and  then  worked  in  Union  Coun- 
ty, at  his  trade  for  two  years.  In  1861  he  came  to 
Attica.  Ind.,  where  he  engaged  at  the  occupation  of 
a  carpenter  for  seven  years.  In  1 869  he  moved  to 
Charleston,  III.,  where  for  two  years  he  worked  at 
carpentering,  and  since  that  time  has  been  engaged 
as  a  contractor  and  builder. 

In  1860  Mr.  McMurtrie  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Shrader,  of  Union  County.  Pa.,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Minder)  Shrader.  After 
coming  to  Charleston,  he  purchased  two  lots  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  town,  upon  which  he  built 
a  house,  and  in  1885  he  purchased  three  lots  upon 
Jackson  street  near  the  I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.,  on  which 
he  built  the  residence  he  now  occupies.  Since  locat- 
ing in  Charleston.  Mr.  McMurtrie  has  been  suc- 
cessful in  his  business.  He  employs  from  two  to 
five  men,  and  all  the  work  he  performs  shows  that 
he  is  a  master  in  the  business.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Democratic  party,  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  a  stockholder  in  the  Loan  and  Build- 
ing Association  of  Charleston;  and  in  all  of  these 
organizations  he  takes  a  lively  interest.  He  is 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the  worthy  and  substantial 
citizens  of  Charleston. 


I 


^AMES  A.  .GOODELL,  one  of  the  largest 
contractors  and  builders  in  the  Northwest, 
has  been  located  at  Mattoon  for  some  years, 
and  gives  employment  to  from  fifty  to  100 
men.  It  will  thus  be  seen  at  once  that  he  is  largely 
identified  with  the  business  and  industrial  inter- 
ests of  Coles  County  and  is  valued  accordingly. 


Mr.  Goodell  was  born  in  Erie  County,  Pa., 'Aug. 
3,  1835,  and  is  the  son  of  Lay  ton  B.  and  Mary 
(Goodell)  Goodell,  who  were  'natives  respectively 
of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  Saratoga  Springs, 
N.  Y.  His  father  was  born  Aug.  8.  1808,  and  his 
mother  Nov.  12,  1809.  Layton  B.  Goodell,  besides 
carrying  on  farming  quite  extensively,  also  con- 
ducted a  large  carriage  manufacturing  establish- 
ment in  Erie  County,  where  he  had  settled  after 
his  marriage,  and  where  he  accumulated  a  fine 
property.  He  retired^from  business^ when  about 
sixty  years  of  age.  The  mother  departed  this  life 
at  the  homestead  in  Erie  County,  June  15,  1877. 
The  parental  household  included  five  children,  four 
now  living,  namely,  John  W.,  surveyor  of  Chau- 
tauqua  County,  Kan.;  James]A.,  our  subject;  Mar- 
tha B.,  Mrs.  Waters,  of  Erie  County,  Pa.,  and 
George  S..  a  merchant  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  father  of  our  subject  assisted  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  State  Normal  School  at  Edinboro, 
Pa.,  and  was  President  of  the  Board  for  a  number 
of  years.  He  was  deeply  interested  in  educational 
matters  and  contributed  a  large  amount  of  money 
for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  the  school 
mentioned.  He  officiated  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  many  years,  and  both  parents  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Besides  the  larger  edu- 
cational institutions  with  which  Mr.  Goodell  was 
connected  he  never  suffered  himself  to  forget  the 
importance  of  the  primary  schools  and  the  early 
education  of  the  young,  and  in  the  absence  of 
school  funds,  would  often  pay  from  his  own  pocket 
the  salary  of  the  teacher  for  three  months  or  more. 

Under  such  influences  our  subject  attained  to 
years  of  manhood  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  he 
stands  where  he  does  to-day,  socially  and  financially. 
He  took  kindly  to  his  books  at  an  early  age,  and 
when  a  lad  of  twelve  years  was  admitted  to  Water- 
ford  Academy,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  two 
and  one-half  years  and  then  entered  Grand  River 
Institute  in  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio.  He  remained 
there  until  nineteen  years  old,  and  after  being 
graduated  continued  two  more  years  at  the  institu- 
tion as  teacher.  He  came  to  Beardstown,  this  State, 
shortly  afterward,  and  instituted  the  graded  school 
system  under  which  he  taught  in  the  city  one  term 
by  subscription,  before  becoming  connected  with 


COLES  COUNTY. 


571 


the  public  schools.  After  a  short  visit  at  his  old 
home  in  the  East  he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  enlisted  as  First  Lieuten- 
ant in  Co.  B,  97th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He  was  taken 
seriously  ill  and  after  nine  months'  service  was 
obliged  to  resign.  In  the  meantime,  however,  he 
had  met  the  enemy  in  the  battle  of  Port  Gibson 
and  participated  in  a  number  of  minor  engage- 
ments and  skirmishes. 

After  his  retirement  from  the  army  Mr.  Goodell 
returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  engaged  as  a  con- 
tractor in  Erie  County  until  1879.  Upon  returning 
to  the  West  he  located  in  Cumberland  County,  111. ; 
a  year  later  he  came  to  Mattoon,  and  continued  his 
occupation  as  a  builder  and  contractor  until  1885. 
In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  crossed  the  Missis- 
sippi into  Missouri,  spending  one  summer  in  Kan-  i 
sas  City.  A  few  years  later  he  took  up  his  resi-  j 
dence  in  Louisville,  Ky.,and  in  company  with  Mc- 
Dowell Bros,  carried  on  a  large  business  as  builder 
and  architect,  and  in  the  meantime  was  employed 
to  superintend  the  construction  of  the  Insane 
Asylum  at  Marion,  Va.  He  remained  in  the  South 
until  the  earthquake  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  then 
secured  the  contracts  as  architect  of  the  county 
buildings  and  churches  which  were  to  be  rebuilt. 
He  was  within  the  city  at  the  time  of  this  great 
disaster  and  upon  hearing  the  first  rumblings 
bravely  resolved  to  stay  where  he  was,  and  not  run 
from  clanger.  When  the  women  and  children, 
however,  ran  screaming  from  the  houses,  he  admits 
that  he  lost  his  head  entirely  and  endeavored  with 
the  others  to  seek  a  place  of  safety.  He  says  that 
the  feelings  of  a  person  in  the  midst  of  an  earth- 
quake can  be  better  imagined  than  described.  He, 
however,  escaped  injury  and  went  on  with  his  work. 

Our  subject  was  married,  in  1857,  to  Miss  Corinda 
Webster,  a  native  of  Westfleld,  N.  Y.,and  daughter 
of  Horace  Webster.  This  union  resulted  in  the 
birth  of  four  children — Elmer  A.,  Edgar  V.,  Mary 
D.  and  Dora.  The  family  residence  is  pleasantly 
located  on  North  First  street,  and  is  surrounded  by 
every  evidence  of  cultivated  taste  and  ample 
means.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Our  subject,  politi- 
cally, is  a  Republican,  and  socially,  belongs  to  the 
A.  F.  <fe  A.  M. 


ffi  OHN  T.  HUFFMAN,  senior  member  of  the 


firm  of  Huffman  &  Bro.,  manufacturers  of 
brick,  at  Charleston,  was  born  where  he  now 
(SsW  resides,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  April 
26,  1843.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Robinson)  Huffman,  natives  of  Kentucky,  who 
died  within  one  week  of  each  other,  in  January, 
1870.  Mrs.  Huffman  died  Jan.  14,  1870,  and  her 
husband,  who  was  in  good  health  at  the  time  of 
the  funeral,  expired  one  week  from  that  day,  and 
was  buried  by  the  side  of  his  wife  in  Cassel 
Cemetery,  near  Charleston. 

The  educational  advantages  of  our  subject  were 
limited  to  the  common  schools,  and  soon  after 
reaching  his  majority  he  established  himself  as  a 
brick  manufacturer  in  partnership  with  his  brother, 
Napoleon  B.  They  continued  together  during  a 
period  of  two  years,  then  sold  out  and  for  six 
years  following  our  subject  was  engaged  in  farming, 
and  also  served  as  Constable,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  in  1871,  and  has  served  continuously 
since  that  time.  In  1872  he  resumed  his  former 
business  in  company  with  his  brother,  George  W., 
and  they  now  turn  out  about  1,000,000  annually. 
The  yard  and  buildings  are  equipped  with  all 
modern  improvements,  and  their  transactions 
steadily  increase  in  number  and  importance.  Both 
members  of  the  firm  are  reliable  business  men. 

Besides  his  business  and  the  interest  above  men- 
tioned, Mr.  Huffman  owns  fifty-seven  acres  of  the 
land  first  purchased  by  his  father,  which  adjoins 
the  city  of  Charleston  on  the  west  and  which  is  in 
a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  buildings  are  con- 
venient and  substantial,  and  form  a  comfortable 
and  enjoyable  home.  The  lady  who  has  for  the  last 
sixteen  years  presided  over  the  household  of  our 
subject  and  been  his  closest  friend  and  counselor, 
was  formerly  Miss  Amanda  E.  Redden,  a  native  of 
this  county,  born  Sept.  14,  1853.  Her  parents, 
James  and  Margaret  L.  Redden,  were  among  the 
pioneers  and  contributed  their  -full  quota  toward 
developing  the  resources  of  Central  Illinois.  Mrs. 
H.  remained  a  member  of  the  parental  household 
until  her  marriage  with  our  subject,  which  took 
place  Aug.  16,  1871.  Of  this  union  there  are  five 
children — Nora  B.,  Frank  A.,  Eva  E.,  Clarence  A. 
and  Jessie  F. 


572 


COLES  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Huffman,  like  his  father  before  him,  is  Demo- 
cratic in  politics,  and  for  sixteen  consecutive  years 
has  held  the  office  of  Constable,  the  duties  of  which 
he  has  discharged  with  excellent  'judgment  and  to 
the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  Socially  he  is  a 
worthy  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  in  both  Subordi- 
nate and  Encampment  Lodges,  and  also  belongs  to 
the  Patriarchal  Circle. 


OBERT  N.  LE1TCH,  M.  D..  was  the  first 
physician  to  locate  at  Lerna,  where  he  has 
since  practiced  successfully  and  bitilt  up  a 
od  patronage.  He  has  spent  his  entire 
life  in  this  county,  having  been  born  in  Pleasant 
Grove  Township,  Nov.  11,  1844.  He  is  the  son  of 
Robert  and  Jane  (Erwin)  Leitch,  and  was  reared 
on  the  farm,  receiving  such  education  as  was  fur- 
nished by  the  common  school.  Upon  leaving  school, 
however,  he  still  applied  himself  closely  to  his 
books,  and  thus  gained  a  fund  of  general  informa- 
tion which  has  served  him  well.  He  was  married 
in  1866,  before  taking  up  the  study  of  medicine,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  J.  and  Ellen 
Hughes,  who  was  also  a  native  of  this  county  and 
born  Aug.  24.  1844. 

After  his  marriage  Dr.  Leitch  purchased  a  farm 
and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1870. 
He  then  sold  out  and  moved  across  the  Mississippi 
into  Dade  County,  Mo.,  where  he  invested  a  part 
of  his  capital  in  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  he  cul- 
tivated until  1878.  He  was  not  satisfied,  however, 
with  his  condition,  and  the  year  following  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine,  and  subsequently 
removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  placed  himself  under 
the  instruction  of  Dr.  P.  G.  Valentine,  and  in  Sep- 
tember of  that  year  entered  the  St.  Louis  College 
of  Homeopathic  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  March,  1882.  During 
the  vacations  in  college  he  practiced  in  Paytonville, 
Ark.  Afterward  he  returned  to  his  native  town- 
ship, where  he  entered  in  earnest  upon  the  duties 
of  his  profession,  and  where,  he  has  since  remained. 

Dr.  Leitch,  in  the  interval  after  leaving  home 
and  before  his  marriage,  had  been  engaged  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Union  arm)',  in  which  he  enlisted 


soon  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  As  a 
member  of  Co.  C,  61st  111.  Inf.,  he  participated  in 

1  the  battle  of  Selma,  Ala.,  and  met  the  enemy  in 
other  minor  engagements  and  skirmishes.  His  regi- 
ment was  afterward  detailed  to  join  the  array  of 
Sherman  at  Atlanta,  and  about  this  time  our  sub- 

1  ject  was  taken  ill  and  obliged  to  retire.  He  was  the 
pioneer  of  homeopathy  in  this  part  of  Coles  Coun- 
ty, and  in  addition  to  being  a  youug  practitioneer, 
labored  under  the  disadvantage  of  the  prejudice 
which  naturally  attaches  to  a  new  system.  He  has 
fortunately  overcome  this  prejudice,  and  is  as  pop- 
ular as  he  is  successful.  He  meddles  very  little 
with  politics,  but  is  decidedly  Republican  and  uni- 
formly casts  his  vote  in  support  of  that  party.  He 
has  been  identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  many  years,  in  which  he  officiates  as 
Class-Leader,  and  socially  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  the  G.  A.  R.  He  was  but  a  boy  at 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  but  until  the  failure  of 
his  health,  performed  his  duties  as  a  soldier  among 
the  bravest.  He  had  some  difficulty  in  obtaining 
permission  to  enter  the  ranks  on  account  of  his 
youth,  but  his  persistence  and  patriotism  finally 
won  the  da}'.  As  a  citizen  and  physician  no  man 
is  more  highly  esteemed. 


H.  PARKER,  a  gentleman  in  the  prime  of 
life,  and  familiarly  known  in  Charleston 
Township  and  vicinity,  was  born  in  this 
township  Sept.  29,  1845.  His  parents,  Da- 
vid and  Dorcas  (Heath)  Parker,  were  natives  re- 
spectively of  Illinois  and  North  Carolina.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  Benjamin  Parker,  came  to  this 
State  during  its  early  settlement,  in  1824,  cut  the 
first  tree  in  Charleston  Township,  and  put  up  the 
first  log  cabin  in  Coles  County.  lie  crossed  the 
Mississippi  into  Texas,  where  he  became  owner 
of  a  large  area  of  land,  and  was  murdered  there  by 
the  Comauche  Indians  while  holding  a  conference 
with  them  at  Ft.  Parker,  in  about  1835. 

David  Parker,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
small  boy  when  he  came  to  this  county  with  his 
parents,  and  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  Charleston 
Township.  He  also  learned  carpentering  and  sur- 


COLES   COUNTY. 


573 


I 


veying,  and  laid  off  into  sections  and  town  plats 
much  of  the  land  in  this  locality.  He  dealt  largely 
in  real  estate,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  furniture,  sash,  doors,  etc.,  for  this  purpose 
conducting  a  lumber-yard.  He  was  characterized 
by  his  energy  and  industry,  and  rounded  up  a  long 
and  useful  life  on  the  20th  of  May,  1870,  his  death 
taking  place  at  his  home  in  Charleston  Township. 
The  parental  household  included  three  children — 
John  H.,  our  subject;  Mary  S.,  Mrs.  Yeaver,  and 
Martha,  Mrs.  Phillips. 

Our  subject  spent  his  younger  years  on  the  farm, 
and  attended  school  in  the  village.  He  remained 
under  the  home  roof  until  twenty-five  years  of  .age, 
and  then  set  about  the  establishment  of  a  home  for 
himself.  One  of  the  important  steps  toward  this 
end  was  his  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  1).  Moore, 
which  took  place  in  1870.  Mr.  Parker  had 
already  secured  100  acres  of  land,  and  in  a  modest 
dwelling  the  young  people  commenced  life  to- 
gether, Mr.  P.  continuing  farming  until  1886.  He 
then  sold  out  and  purchased  a  smaller  tract  of 
forty  acres,  of  which  he  still  retains  possession,  and 
which  has  been  brought  to  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  purchased  his  present  residence  in  the 
city  in  1879.  It  is  pleasantly  located  on  North 
street,  where  the  family,  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts,  enjoy  the  society  of  many  friends.  The 
three  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  are  Daniel 
R.,  Nellie  E.  and  Willie  F. 

Mr.  Parker,  although  having  very  little  to  do 
with  political  affairs,  uniformly  votes  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket,  and  with  his  estimable  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber in  good  standing  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  has  served  his  township  as  Road  Commissioner, 
and  socially,  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


IOHN  HUFFMAN,  deceased,  who  was  num- 
bered  among  the  most  honored  and  earliest 
pioneers  of  Coles  County,  first  drew  breath 
in  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  Feb.  16,  1798, 
where  he  remained  during  his  youth  and  childhood 
and  until  beginning  to  form  his  plans  for  a  home 
and  domestic  ties  of  his  own.  He  became  a  resi- 
dent of  this  State  in  1832,  locating  in  Vermilion 


County,  whence  he  removed  in  the  fall  of  1833  to 
this  county,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining the  city  of  Charleston.  There  the  children 
were  born,  and  there  the  parents  passed  the  remain- 
ing years  of  their  life.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Huff- 
man took  place  on  the  14th  of  January,  1870,  aged 
over  sixty-four  years,  and  her  remains  were  laid  to 
rest  in  Cassel  Cemetery.  Mr.  Huffman  was  seem- 
ingly in  good  health  at  the  time,  but  just  one  week 
from  that  da3'  his  funeral  services  were  held,  and  all 
that  was  mortal  of  him  laid  beside  the  wife  whom 
he  had  loved  and  honored  in  his  lifetime.  He  was 
over  seventy-two  years  old. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  in  her  girlhood 
Miss  Catherine  Robinson,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
born  Feb.  11,  1806.  Her  father  removed  from  the 
Old  Dominion  with  his  family  when  she  was  about 
ten  years  of  age,  to  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  where 
two  daughters  were  born,  and  whence  they  re- 
moved as  we  have  stated,  in  1832,  to  this  State. 
The  parental  household  finally  included  eight  sons 
and  four  daughters,  eleven  of  whom  lived  to  reach 
years  of  maturity.  Joseph  died  when  a  lad  of 
eight  years;  Catherine  became  the  wife  of  John 
Heath,  and  Polly  the  wife  of  George  Hunt;  both 
are  now  deceased.  William,  James,  Napoleon  B., 
and  Sarah  J.,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Lowe,  were  the 
next  in  order  of  birth;  Benjamin  F.  during  the  late 
Civil  War  served  in  Co.  C,  54th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
now  fills  a  soldier's  grave  at  Cairo,  where  his  death 
occurred  May  11,  1863;  Henrietta  is  the  wife  of 
Benjamin  I.  White,  of  Charleston;  John  T.,  George 
W.  and  Daniel  H.  were  the  youngest  sons.  Daniel 
H.  lives  in  Missouri,  George  in  Charleston  and 
John  T.  at  the  home  place. 

When  Mr.  Huffman  began  to  exercise  the  right 
of  suffrage  the  principles  of  the  Whigs  coincided 
most  heartily  with  his  views  of  political  matters 
and  he  accordingly  identified  himself  with  them, 
being  a  great  admirer  of  Henry  Clay.  In  1860,  he 
cast  his  ballot  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  after- 
ward supported  the  Democratic  party.  He  was 
fairly  successful  in  his  business  and  farming  opera- 
tions and  at  his  death,  besides  the  homestead  was 
the  owner  of  200  acres  of  land  unincninbered. 
Both  Mr.  Huffman  and  wife  identified  themselves 
with  the  Close  Communion  Baptists,  and  were  i 


f 


574 


COLES   COUNTY. 


greatly  respected  by  the  community  where  they 
lived  so  long  on  account  of  their  excellent  traits  of 
character  and  uniform  goodness  of  heart. 


THOMAS  W.  TEMPLE,  dealer  in  lumber  and 
operating  a  sawmill  on  section  2,  North 
Okaw  Township,  is  one  of  the  most  useful 
and  enterprising  citizens  of  Coles  County.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  having  been  born  in 
Richland  County,  June  22,  1835.  His  father, 
David  Temple,  a  native  of  Center  County,  Pa., 
was  born  in  the  same  month  and  the  same  day  of 
the  month  as  his  son,  just  fort}'  years  before,  in 
1795.  David  was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age, 
and  was  deprived  of  the  advantages  of  education, 
being  permitted  to  spend  but  very  little  time  in 
school.  When  old  enough  he  was  bound  out  to  a 
farmer  and  continued  occupied  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits the  balance  of  his  life.  He  was  married  at  the 
age  of  twenty-seven  years  to  Miss  Eliza  Packer,  a 
native  of  Richland  County,  Ohio,  and  they  located 
in  Knox  County,  that  State,  whence,  a  few  years 
later  they  removed  to  Delaware  County,  and  from 
there,  in  the  spring  of  1832,  to  Jasper  County,  111. 

David  Temple,  upon  coming  to  this  State,  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  improved  land,  and  entered 
forty  more,  having  thus  a  snug  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  which  he  cultivated  and  from  which  he  built 
up  a  good  home,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days.  The  mother  had  departed  this  life  in 
1845,  and  her  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  what  was 
called  the  "Four-Corners  burying-ground,"  in  Del- 
aware County,  Ohio.  She  was  a  good  woman  and 
a  devoted  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  David 
Temple  was  afterward  married  to  Mrs.  Annie  M. 
Gorman.  Of  this  union  there  were  no  children. 
This  lady  lived  about  ten  years,  then  passed  away, 
and  he  was  subsequently  married  to  Mrs.  Audrey 
Eaton,  who  only  lived  a  few  years.  His  death 
took  place  in  1863. 

The  twelve  children  of  the  parental  household 
ware  named  respectively,  Louis,  Mary,  Solomon, 
Jonathan,  Thomas  W.,  Elmer  M.,  Ruth,  James  S., 
Maria,  Lynn  M.,  Alexander  and  John  W.  Maria 
.and  Louis  died  in  their  youth.  The  others  lived 


to  mature  years  and  with  the  exception  of  James 
M.,  were  all  married.  The  latter  during  the  late 
war  enlisted  fn  Co.  E,  25th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  after 
participating  in  many  of  the  important  battles  of 
that  struggle,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  Dec.  28,  1862.  His  remains  were  laid  to 
rest  in  the  National  Cemetery  near  Murfreesboro, 
Tenn.  Alexander  served  in  the  54th  Illinois  In- 
fantry three  years,  in  the  meantime  being  captured 
twice  by  the  enemy,  but  was  paroled  and  ex- 
changed, living  to  return  home;  Lynn  M.  served 
first  three  months  in  the  8th  Illinois  Regiment,  then 
re-enlisted  for  three  years  longer,  and  took  part  in 
many  important  battles,  including  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Vicksburg;  John  W.  served  in  the  63d 
Regiment  three  years  and  was  also  in  several 
battles. 

Thomas  W.  Temple  came  West  with  his  parents, 
and  remained  under  the  home  roof  until  nineteen 
years  of  age.  He  then  gave  his  father  a  note  of 
$225  for  his  freedom,  and  started  out  in  life  for 
himself.  He  commenced  working  on  a  farm  at 
$17  per  month,  and  succeeded  in  taking  up  the  note 
which  his  father  held  the  first  year.  When  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  was  married,  Dec.  22,  1856,  to 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Plew,  the  wedding  taking  place  in 
Charleston,  111.  Mrs.  T.  was  the  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Rachel  Plew,  and  after  becoming  the 
mother  of  six  children,  departed  this  life,  Nov.  3, 
1870.  Her  remains  were  buried  in  Atkins'  grave- 
yard south  of  Charleston.  Their  children  were: 
Jonathan,  Gregory ;  Mary  E.,  now  the  wife  of 
William  White  of  this  county;  Norah  B.,  Mrs. 
Walter  McNight;  Charlie,  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy. 

After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Temple  rented  land 
and  carried  on  farming  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
late  war.  He  then  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  25th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  battles  at  Pea  Ridge, 
Perrj  ville,  Stone  River  and  Chattanooga,  and  after- 
ward joined  Sherman's  army  on  its  march  to  the 
sea.  At  Stone  River  he  was  captured,  the  same 
day  that  his  brother,  James  M.,  was  killed,  but  was 
paroled  the  day  following.  He  served  three  years 
and  escaped  without  a  wjound,  coming  home  well 
and  hearty. 

In  1871    Mr.  Temple   took   for  his  second  wife 


f 


COLES   COUNTY. 


575 


Mrs.  Amanda  E.  Strain,  their  marriage  taking  place 
on  the  13th  of  April.  Mrs.  T.  was  born  in  this 
county  June  22,  1839,  and  is  the  daughter  of 
Charles  G.  and  Nancy  (Owens)  Chowning,  natives 
of  Kentuckj'  and  early  pioneers  of  this  county. 
They  have  long  since  passed  away.  The  house- 
hold included  eleven  children,  of  whom  Amanda 
K.  was  the  ninth.  Mr.  Temple  carried  on  farming 
until  in  April,  1884,  then,  in  company  with  M. 
Taylor,  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  mill  which 
he  now  owns,  having  bought  his  partner  out  in 
1886.  He  is  wide-awake  and  energetic,  straight- 
forward and  upright,  and  is  contributing  his  full 
quota  toward  the  business  and  industrial  interests 
of  the  county. 


G*  OTTLIEB  F.  BIDLE,  a  prominent  German 
citizen  of  Pleasant  Grove  Township,  is  a  re- 
tired farmer  residing  at  Campbell.  He  is 
the  son  of  Albricht  and  Elizabeth  Bidle,  and  was 
born  Jan.  21,  1835,  in  Essling,  Austria.  There 
were  five  children  in  his  father's  family,  and  the 
eldest  son  died  in  his  native  land  at  the  age  of 
eighteen.  The  names  of  the  remaining  four  are, 
George,  Louisa,  Fredricaaud  Gottlieb,  all  of  whom, 
after  the  death  of  their  parents,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States.  George  is  now  a  resident  of  Hut- 
ton  Township,  Coles  Count}' ;  Louisa  was  the  wife 
of  Gottlieb  Bowes;  she  died  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  in 
the  spring  of  1886,  leaving  several  children.  Fred- 
rica  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Weber,  and  resides  in 
Shelby  County,  111. 

Gottlieb  Bidle  was  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death  was  an  infant. 
When  a  boy  of  eleven,  his  mother  died  also,  leav- 
ing him  an  orphan,  but  he  found  friends,  however, 
and  was  reared  in  a  family  by  the  name  of  Rice. 
In  1852,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years,  he  accompanied  his  brother  George  to 
the  United  States.  They  carne  in  a  sailing-vessel 
from  Bremen,  and  landed  in  New  York  after  a  pas- 
sage of  thirty-four  days,  during  which  they  en- 
countered some  rough  weather.  They  were  young 
and  inexperienced,  and  after  remaining  in  New 
York  City  about  ten  days,  strangers  in  a  strange 


land,  unable  to  speak  the  language,  or  understand 
what  was  said  to  them  when  addressed,  they  found 
themselves  with  empty  purses.  The  necessity  of 
earning  money  was  apparent,  and  they  obtained 
employment  for  a  time  with  the  firm  of  Fisher  & 
Co.,  who  sent  them  to  a  farm  near  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

After  working  at  the  latter  place  two  months  at 
110  and  $12  per  month,  thej'  concluded  that  they 
had  amassed  enough  capital  to  proceed  further  on 
their  journej'  into  the  country.  Accordingly  they 
turned  their  faces  Westward  and  went  to  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  where  some  old  acquaintances  were  liv- 
ing. They  passed  two  years  in  that  city,  where 
Gottlieb  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  and  his 
brother  worked  at  wagon-making,  having  learned 
his  trade  in  the  old  country.  Gottlieb  received 
$40  per  year  while  learning  his  trade,  and  the 
young  men  now  felt  rich  enough  to  go  in  search 
of  further  experience.  In  July,  1854,  they  went 
.to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  Gottleib  was  engaged 
at  his  trade  until  January  of  the  following  year. 
In  the  meantime  his  sister  had  recently  arrived 
from  Germany,  and  settled  in  Westfield,  Clark  Co., 
111.  George  was  taken  very  ill  in  Terrc  Haute, 
and  needing  care,  left  his  brother  there  and  went 
to  his  sister's  in  Illinois.  In  the  winter  of  1855 
Gottlieb  also  came  to  this  State,  and  was  engaged 
at  his  trade  in  Decatur  until  June;  he  then  came 
to  Coles  County  and  established  his  business  at 
Campbell,  thence' went  to  Farmington,  where  he 
remained  until  1862.  At  that  time  he  threw  down 
the  anvil,  and  offered  himself  in  the  service  of  his 
adopted  country. 

Gottlieb  Bidle  was  mustered  in  with  Co.  I,  123d 
111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  served  three  years.  He  was 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  military  duties,  and 
was  with  his  regiment  throughout  the  entire  time, 
with  the  exception  of  two  months,  when  he  was 
lying  ill  iji  the  hospital  at  Nashville.  In  the  spring 
of  1863  his  regiment  became  a  part  of  Wilder's 
Brigade,  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Perryville, 
Milton,  Hoover's  Gap,  Chattanooga,  Chickarnauga, 
New  Hope  Church,  Atlanta,  Selma,  and  numerous 
minor  skirmishes.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  lie 
returned  home  and  resumed  his  trade,  in  which  he 
was  successful,  and  in  1867  he  purchased  100  acres 
of  laud  near  Campbell,  lie  then  engaged  in  an 


t. 


576 


COLES   COUNTY. 


extensive  farming  business,  at  the  same  time  con- 
tinuing in  his  trade.  He  was  successful  in  both 
enterprises,  and  now  owns  a  fine  estate  containing 
270  acres  of  land,  nearly  all  of  which  is  under  cul- 
tivation. His  residence  and  farm  buildings  arp 
pleasant  and  commodious,  and  he  also  owns  prop- 
erty in  Campbell.  In  conducting  his  farm,  he  has 
given  considerable  attention  to  raising  draft  horses 
of  Clyde  blood. 

Mr.  Bidle  was  married,  Oct.  30,  1856,  to  Miss 
Sophronia  Walker.  Mrs.  Bidle  is  the  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Mary  Ann  (Starks)  Walker,  and  was 
born  Sept.  13,  1838,  in  Coles  County,  III.  A  fam- 
ily of  ten  children  was  born  to  them :  John,  de- 
ceased in  childhood;  Albert,  James;  Mary,  de- 
ceased at  the  age  of  seventeen;  David,  George, 
Louisa  C.,  Joseph,  Julia  and  Richard. 

Mr.  Bidle  has  acquired  his  property  by  his  own 
exertions.  He  is  in  independent  circumstances, 
and  desiring  rest  from  the  cares  of  active  business, 
has  rented  his  land,  and  is  passing  the  closing  years 
of  his  life  in  the  enjoyment  of  ease  and  prosperity. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Bidle  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  also  held  other 
local  offices,  giving  general  satisfaction  to  the  peo- 
ple in  the  discharge  of  his  public  duties.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  of  the 
G.  A.  R. 


KORGK  W.  HUFFMAN,  junior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Huffman  Bros.,  brick  manufact- 
urers at  Charleston,  was  born  in  this  coun- 
ty March  6,  1846,  and  is  consequently  in  the  prime 
of  life.  During  his  boyhood  and  youth  he  attended 
the  common  schools  and  remained  on  the  farm  of 
his  father  until  twenty  years  of  age.  He  then 
rented  a  tract  of  land,  to  which  he  gave  his  atten- 
tion for  a  period  of  four  years,  and  in  1870  became 
associated  with  his  brother  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick.  This  partnership  continued  about  four 
years,  and  then  our  subject  served  a  year  on  the 
Charleston  police  force.  The  following  year  he 
was  variously  employed,  and  subsequently  was 


City  Marshal  of  Charleston,  and  for  two  years 
thereafter  was  assigned  to  night  duty  on  the  police 
force.  He  afterward  joined  his  brother  again  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick,  in  which  he  has  since 
continued  with  .fair  success.  . 

Mr.  Huffman,  on  the  10th  of  October.  18:33,  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  L.,  the  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Jane  Hutchinson,  and  who  was 
born  in  Cambridge,  Ohio,  Feb.  28,  1860.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  the  same  town,  and  in  the 
fall  after  the  birth  of  his  daughter  Mary,  came 
West,  and  located  at  Charleston,  where  his  death 
took  place  in  February,  1871.  The  mother  is  still 
living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  are  the  parents  of  one 
child,  a  daughter,  Maude.  They  occupy  a  snug 
home,  and  enjoy  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
scores  of  friends.  Mr.  H.,  politically,  is  decidedly 
Democratic,  and  socially  a  member  in  good  stand- 
ing of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


P.  HACKETT,  retired  farmer  and  merchant 
of  Charleston,  is  a  native  of  Coles  County, 
111.,  and' was  born  Nov.  8,  1838.  He  is  the 
\son  of  Levi  and  Sarah  (Adkins)  Hackett, 
who  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  father  was 
born  on  the  14th  of  November,  1812,  and  the 
mother  Dec.  30,  1814.  The  grandfather  was  Peter 
Hackett,  who  was  a  farmer  and  a  soldier  in  the  early 
wars,  and  died  in  Kentucky.  The  father  came  to 
Coles  County,  111.,  in  1835,  a  single  man.  The 
mother's  father  was  James  Adkins,  and  he  came  to 
Coles  County  in  1835. 

The  father  and  mother  were  married  in  1836. 
two  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Charleston,  and  had 
a  family  of  twelve  children,  in  which  the  number 
seven  predominated  in  several  ways;  there  were 
seven  boys  and  seven  girls;  seven  of  them  had  black 
eyes,  and  seven  had  blue.  They  all  lived  to  be  men 
and  women.  Levi  after  marriage  purchased  a  farm 
in  Charleston  Township,  four  miles  southwest  of 
the  city,  which  consisted  of  forty  acres;  he  was  a 


COLES  COUNTY. 


4- 

577    ,  , 


blacksmith  by  trade  and  followed  that  occupation 
in  connection  with  his  fanning.  He  lived  in 
Charleston  Township  until  1857,  and  then  moved 
into  Ashrnore  Township,  purchasing  '220  acres  of 
land.  He  remained  there  four  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  Douglas  County  in  the  fall  of  1861, 
where  lie  purchased  a  small  farm  of  ninety  acres, 
upon  which  he  resided  until  his  death  on  the  2d  of 
March,  1886.  He  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  five  boys  are  now  living:  R.  P.;  Le 
Grand;  Robert  M. ;  Josephns,  and  Richard  H. 

For  many  years  the  father  was  a  Henry  Clay 
Whig,  and  at  the  dissolution  of  that  party  and  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  joined  his 
political  fortunes  with  the  latter.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Church  of  God,  and  was  a  man  of  lovable 
traits  of  character,  never  speaking  a  wrong  word  of 
a  neighbor,  or  never  doing  anything  that  would 
offend  anyone.  He  was  a  happy  man  in  his  family 
relations,  and  loved  all  church  organizations.  His 
widow,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  is  still  living  on 
.the  farm. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  raised  on  a 
farm  and  obtained  his  early  education  in  the 
school  which  was  taught  three  miles  from  his 
father's  house.  He  lived  at  home  until  nineteen 
years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Ann  N.  Waltrip,  who  was  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Susan  (Williams)  Waltrip,  natives  of  Breckin- 
ridge  County,  Ky.,  who  came  to  Coles  County  in 
1835,  and  settled  in  Hutton  Township.  They  pur- 
chased 240  acres  of  land,  and  lived  on  the  same  for 
forty  3'ears.  He  then  came  to  Charleston  and  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  for  two  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  retired  from  business  and 
died  in  September,  1885.  The  mother  died  in 
1  886.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  three 
of  whom  are  now  living :  Mrs.  Hackett,  Alexander, 
and  William  8. 

Mr.  Hackett  after  marriage  engaged  in  farming 
on  a  rented  farm,  and  purchased  seventy-five  acres 
in  Hutton  Township,  Coles  Co.,  111.,  in  1861,  and 
lived  on  this  farm  until  1862.  On  the  18th  of 
August,  that  year,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  123d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  in  the  service  for  three  years, 
during  which  time  he  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Perry ville,  Hoover's  Gap,  Chickamauga,  Atlanta, 


Milton,  Tenn.,  Flat  Sholes,  Ga.,  Noonday  Creek 
and  Selma,  Ala.,  and  many  skirmishes,  being  under 
fire  altogether  fifty-two  times.  He  was  on  de- 
tatched  duty  in  the  rebel  lines,  charged  with  the 
care  of  a  wounded  Lieutenant  Colonel  for  four 
weeks.  He  was  wounded  at  Milton,  Tenn.,  in  the 
right  groin  with  an  ounce  ball,  and  was  in  the 
hospital  about  two  months.  He  still  carries  the 
ball.  He  also  received  a  flesh  wound  in  the 
shoulder,  from  a  bushwhacker. 

After  he  returned  from  the  war  Mr.  Hackett  re- 
sumed farming  on  his  farm,  on  which  he  remained 
until  1872,  when  he  removed  two  and  one-half 
miles  east  of  Charleston,  on  160  acres  of  land,  for 
which  he  paid  $4,000,  to  which  at  various  times 
he  added  165  acres  of  land,  and  afterward  sold 
eighty;  he  then  repurchased  eighty-five  acres.  In 

;  1884  he  left  his  farm  and  moved  to  Charleston 
where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  for  three 
years.  He  purchased  two  blocks  in  the  city  in  the 

!  Anderson  Addition,  on  which  were  a  house  and 
barn,  and  paid  therefor  $2,500,  and  also  bought 
twelve  acres  southeast  of  the  city,  for  which  he 

i    paid  $1,000. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hackett  have  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren: William  J.  married  Miss  Lizzie  Lietch,  and 
they  have  one  child  named  Neta;  Eliza  E.  is  now 
Mrs.  George  Davis,  and  is  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren— Carrie  B.,  Orrin  and  Charles;  Noah  M.  mar- 
ried Miss  Elsie  Kelley,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren— Zeffle  G.,  Nioma,  Ida  E. ;  Le  Grand  E.  mar- 
ried Miss  Liza  Eastman;  Henry  M.,  Ida  J.,  Lula  J. 
F.,  Fay  R.,  Reason  A.  Mr.  Hackett  is  a  member 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  a  comrade  of  the  G. 
A.  R.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Church 
of  God.  He  was  converted  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  in  what  was  known  as  the  Separate  Baptist 
Church,  and  was  a  member  of  the  same  for  seven- 
teen years,  and  filled  the  office  of  Deacon  for  four 
years.  He  then  withdrew  from  that  bodj'  and 
united  with  the  Church  of  God,  in  which  he  held 
the  office  of  Deacon  for  six  years.  This  church  was 
organized  in  1877  at  Mt.  Pleasant  on  his  farm,  and 
at  his  house.  In  1879  a  church  was  built  on  his 
farm,  to  which  he  contributed  half  an  acre  of  ground, 
worth  $50,  and  also  $75  in  cash,  and  has  always 

,    been  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  same. 


I 


! 


Adams,  John 23     j 

Adams,  John  Q 39     ! 

Adams,  Mrs.   Olive  A 204 

Allen.  Wm    Z 194 

Allison,  J 293 

Ames,  Oliver  H 537 

Anderson,   Bruce .487 

Anderson,  H 516 

Anderson,  James 193 

Armstrong,  Joseph 200 

Arterburn,  Green  .- 188 

Arthur,  Chester  A 99 

Ashby,   Phillip ais 

Ashworth,  I..  A 203 

Ashworth,  Mark  S 202 

A vey,   Richard •.  . .  192 


B 


Baird,  2.    J 472 

Baker,  Basil 410 

Barnes,  R .  C 191 

Barnsback,   H.  C 206 

Barr,  Wm.    M 190 

Beavers,  John   B 189 

Beavers,  J  .    W .539 

Benefiel,  J.  B    5,o 

Bensley,  T.    A 550 

Berry,  (J.  K    557 

Beveridge,  John  L 171 

Bidle,G.   F 575 

Bidle,  J.  H 402 

Bissell,  Wm.   H ,51 

Bitner,  J.   W 422 

Blevins,  J.    H 304 

Bond,  Shadrach in 

Bower,  O     C 426 

Boyd,  Joseph  E 230 

Bridges.   Dr.    V  .   R 520 

B  rooks,  A 415 

Brooks,  L>r-  J  -  C 290 


-~VV-«4=^<0>^3.^.-'V\/^ 


Brown,  C.    F... 433 

Brown,  E.    W 397 

Brown,  F.   A 425 

Brown,  Jerome   A 223 

Brown,   J.   I 472 

Brown,  J.    T 212 

Bruner,  A.  J 5'4 

Buchanan,  James. 75 

Buckler,   Harriet 190 

Bull,  T.  J 512 

Burgess,    Wm 227 

Burgner,  Conrad 257 

Burgner,  G.    F 205 

Burgner,  J.    Morris 210 

Busbey,  William  D 384 

Butler,  Dr.    A.  C 401 


Campbell,  Daniel 273 

Candy,  A.   R 317 

Carlin,  Thomas 135 

Carter,  Joseph 289 

Cecil,    H.   H 447 

Chambers,  H 243 

Chambers,  Dr.   W.  M 204 

Chapman,  S-   E 281 

Chettle,  Wm.    M 276 

Childress,  John   544 

Clark,  James  H 239 

Clark,  Wm....    282 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 121 

Cochran,  Wm.    H 304 

Cofer,  Col.  John 305 

Cofer,  Thomas  N 285 

Coles,  Edward -...115 

Coley,    Robert  1 334 

Combs,  W.    A 274 

Combs,   \\".   H      279 

Craig,   A.  J 276 

Craig,  Isaac  N -• 466 

Craig,  James  W 285 

••••53* 

492 

..    ..242 

'75 

*58 


Craig,  James  W 

Craig,  Lafayette 

Crawford,  John  G 

Cullom,   Shelby  M 

Cunningham,  John..... 


Cunningham,  J  .  T 440 

Cunningham,  Judge  J.  R 492     ! 

Cunningham,  Mrs.  Sarah  E    .280 

Curtis,  Charles...   .    308 

Curtis,  S.  P 247 


D 


Davis,   David  C    an 

Davis,  Joseph  A 341 

Deckard.  Dr.  J.  P 406 

Dodd?,  W.    H 295 

Dole,  C.  M 373 

Dole,  E 258 

Dole.-S.  D 393 

Dollar.  Ralph 330 

Doty,   J  ames 438 

Doty.  John  M 458 

Doty',  J.  W 364 

Doty,  Levi 476 

Doty,  Samuel 433 

Drish,  Wm.   H 218 

Dunbar,  Lucian .384 

Duncan,  Joseph 131 

Duncan,  S.   R 561 

Duncan,  Dr.  W.  S 221 

I) utro.  Hannah.      222 

Duvall,  P.  M 564 


E 


Easton,   F.zekiel 233 

Edman,  Kenny 287 

Edwards,  Ninian 119 

Elkin,  Clark 545 

Ellis,  Jesse   K 240 

Ellison,  Johnson 231 

Kllison,   Moses 201 

EmhufF,  Stephen 543 

Everharty,   M 232 

Eversole,    Henry    287 

Kwing,  Wm.  L.   D 127 


F 


Fall,  D.  M 564 

Farrar,J.    W $ag 

Feagan,   Andrew 219 

Ferguson,  J.    M 297 

Ferguson,   M     J 392 

Ferguson,   Dr.  O.    W anj 

Ficklin,  O.    B 187 

Fillmore,  Millard.  ' 67 

Flenner,  Martin 242 

Florer,  S ,254 

Ford.  Thoma» 139 

Foreman,  John 252 

Foster,  F.H 238 

Fowler,  H 214 

Freeman,   F.  F 331 

Freeman,   N.  S 3*8 

French,  Augustus  C 143 

Fuller,  R.    R 497 

Funk  ho  user,  A .  J 210 

Funkhouser,  W.    1,.   R 2i4 

Furry,  Peter 488 


G 


Galbreath,  W.    H    BS3 

Gannaway,  J.   J 3^1 

Gardner,  S.    D --347 

Garfield,  James  A 95 

Garner,  Dr.    J.   S 355 

Garver,  Philip .260 

Geyer,  George 314 

Gibbs,   I.  N 369 

Gilbert,   M  .  \V 336 

Gilmer,  Wm.    A 371 

G  lassco,   F, .    T 305 

Glassco,   M 303 

Gobert,    Peter 437 

Goodell,  J.  A .'      ... 

Goodyear,  John    S.. 

Grant,    James 


••437 

..570  | 

249     ' 

*£lU 


*=. 


INDEX. 


Grant,  Ulysses  S 77 

Grant,  Wm 521 

Gray  Bros... 291 

Gray,  George  W 497 

Gray,  J.  B 507 

Green,  C.    D 240 

Grocn,  Joseph  F 332 

Green,  J.   H. 4'1 

Green,  N.   R 298 

Griffin,  G.    B 498 

Grimes,  Thomas   W 540 

Grove,  J.W.  B 288 

Guest,  Wm 259 

Gwin,  John  W  244 


H 


Hackett,  R.  P 576 

Hall,  James  M 548 

Hall,  John  J 4°5 

Hallock,  George  R 261 

Hamilton,   James 323 

Hamilton,    John   M 170 

Hanks,   Dennis 555 

Hanley,  J.    T 448 

Hanna,  J.  W 526 

Harmon,  A.    F 470 

Harrison,  Wm.  H 51 

Harwood,   E   353 

Hawkins,   O.    D 261 

Hayes,  R.    B 91 

Hendrix,  John 394 

Henry,  Dr.  A.  M 562 

Hildreth,  John 250 

Hobart,   F.    E 566 

Honn,  Andrew   A... 347 

Honn,  D.  W ..109 

Honn,  James  R -  391 

Honn,  P.    K 4?8 

Hood,  James 491 

Hoots,  John    565 

Hopper,  Dudley 456 

Hurton,  Wm.  F 395 

Huckaba,A.    H 370 

Hudson,  Jesse .  -  -224 

Huffman,  George  W 576 

Huffman,  John 573 

Huffman,  John  T 571 

Hughes,  Judge  J.   F 524 

H unt,  Madison 327 

Hurst,  John 318 


Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jackson,  Samuel  J 228 

Jefferson,  Thomas ....   27 

Jeffris,  A 338 

Jeffris,   Ralph 348 

Jenkins,    E.   A 528 

Jenkins,  W.  M 362 

Johnson,  Andrew 85 

Johnson,   Frederick 308 

Johnson,  Irvin    450 

Johnson,  John 307 


Johnson,  John 353 

Johnson,   Wm 502 

Johnston,   J.    H 522 

Jones,  T.  T 358 

Jones,  W  .    D.. 353 


K 


Kane,  James 286 

Kelly,  Larbia 409 

Kerns,  Mrs.   M.  P 474 

King,  John  W 396 


Laytr.n,    H  .  C 277 

Lcitch,  C.    E 515 

Leitch,  J.  W 410 

Leitch,  R.  N --572 

Lincoln,  Abraham 79 

Linder,  Elisha 494 

Lippincoit,  Samuel 458 

Logan,  S.  F 380 

Luce,  Moses  H 563 


M 


Madison,  James 31 

Major,  J.  A 561 

Major,  W.    L 506 

Manroe,  A.  J 251 

Martin,  David 488 

Martin,  G.  B 389 

Martin,  James  A 556 

McCalHster,  Robert  J 316 

McCarthy,  Daniel 379 

McCartney,    F.  M 343 

McClelland,  J.    H    521 

McConnell,  John   A.... 382 

McCrory,  James 333 

McDonald,  N.  S 368 

McFadden,   R.    H 508 

McGrath,  Hon,  Thos.    1 552 

McMorris.J.   N 479 

McMurtrie,  D.   F 569 

McNeel,    J ..361 

Millar,  G.   V 425 

Millar.  Wm 435 

Miller,  George  L 451 

Miller,  Wm 568 

Mills,  Rev.   Samuel 271 

M inor,  Gideon 342 

Minton,  W.  S 559 

Moffett,  J.   N.. 356 

Mohlenhoff,  Henry 375 

Monfort,  I .    J 363 

Monfort,  J  -    A 365 

Monroe,  Elias 477 

Monroe,  Col.  James 442 

Monroe,  James 35 

Montgomery,  Alexander 333 


Montgomery,   Dr.  J-T    ...    .434 

Moore,   Isaac  N 316 

Morgan,  Dr.   W.  D 388 

Morgan,  Wm 381 

Mountjoy,  W.    D    382 

Mozier,  A.  M 468 

Murphy,  J.   W 325 

Murphy,    M.   A 326 

Myers,    Wm 391 


N 


Neal,  A.  D.. 270 

Neal,  H.  A 432 

Neff,  John 429 

Newman,  M 263 

Nicholson,  A     B 484 

Norton,  I..  J 555 


O 


Oglesby,  Richard  J 163 

O'Hair,  C.  B 542 

O'Hair,  M.    F. 404 

O'Hair,  Z 365 

Orland,  W.  P 539 

Owens,  R.  G 480 


Palmer,  John   M    167 

Parker,  J  .  H 572 

Patterson ,  E .   G 402 

Peak,  W.    J 412 

Peck.C.   G   398 

Pemberton,  J.   J 403 

Pepper,  T  .  J .496 

Perisho,  Isaac 457 

Perisho,  J.    K 329 

Pfeifer,  George   M 485 

Pfeifer,  L.   W.   M 541 

Philhower,  A.W   351 

Philhower,  W.   A 31. 

Phillips,  J.  M 439 

Pierce.  Franklin 71 

Pinnell,   A.   J 345 

Polk,  James  K 59 

Poorman,  John 387 

Prall,  Cornelius 313 

Puleslon,  W.  H 392 

Purtill,  W.   F 390 


R 


Raines,  George 462 

Rankin,  John 548 

Rardin,  J.    H...  x 538 

Rardin,   Samuel. .v. 530 

Ray,  S.  E    213 


Reat,  Mrs.    Emma 196 

Record,  S.   H 371 

Redman,   B.    B 374 

Reel,  J-    F 191 

Reel,  Dr.  S.  A 533 

Reilly,  Patrick 5^5 

Replogle,   David 195 

Replogle,  M  atthias 195 

Reynolds,  C.  C 413 

Reynolds,  John 123 

Rice,  Amos,  Jr 348 

Rice,  Amos,Sr .344 

Rice,  J.  C 473 

Ricketts,  Joshua 486 

Ricketts,  Oscar  J 376 

Riley,  Nimrod 234 

Roberts,  Isaac  N 477 

Roberts,  Wm .    D 430 

Roberts,  W.    H 216 

Ruddell,  Dr.  C.  B 423 

Rutherford,  Dr.   H 373 

Rutherford,  John 370 


Sain,  I.  W 503 

Sanders,  David    513 

Sandoe,  George 549 

Sargent,  John  S 267 

Sawin,  J  .  G 291 

Scott,  E.  D 483 

Schulhoff,  F.  M , 569 

Senteney ,   Thomas 470 

Shafer,  William 505 

Shaver,  Jonathan 296 

Shields,  W.  J 469 

Shinn,   Jdtnes 449 

Shoemaker,  T.  T 366 

Shoemaker,    Wm 383 

Silvers,  J.  O    ..    49° 

Silverthorn,  Dr.  L.    L 237 

Slater.  John  G 454 

Snapp,  J.  N 3U3 

Snowden,   J.   F 398 

Snowden,  W.  D 379 

Spitler,John 475 

Stites,  N.  S 527 

Stites,  Wm 519 

Stokes,  John 268 

Suitt,  A.  D 438 

Sumerlin,  Adolf 546 

S  wisher,  Lockard 495 


Taylor,  Isaac 416 

Taylor,  Dr.  Smith 453 

Taylor,    Zachary 63 

Temple,   Thomas  W 574 

Thornton,  Wm.  H 269 

Tiley,  S.    G 335 

Tinch,  Alexander 248 

Toby,  J.   R 558 

T  raver,  Mrs.  Mary  S 358 


f 


fc 


INDEX. 


T rower,   Mrs.  P.    A 452 

Turney,    B.    D 309 

Turney,  J.  B 344 

Tyler,  John 45 


v 


Van   Buren,   Martin 47 

Vannatta,  I .    N 264 


w 


Wad.lill,  W.  G 558 

Wallace,    James   306 

Wallace,  W.   H 425 

Washington,    George 19 

Watkins,  J.   H 5<x, 

Weiss,  Gunther 534 

Whisennand,  A.J 357 


White,  Silas 367 

Wible,  J.  H 315 

Wiley,    James 415 

Williams,  J.    H 274 

Williams,   R.   E-   Y 361 

Williams,  Wm    .510 

Wilson,  John 319 

Winkleblack,  Daniel    B 320 

Winkleblack,  Jacob 420 

Woods,  G.  W 300 

Wood,  John 155 

Woods,  T.  E 462 

Woodson,  James  W .  .227 


Wright,  Henry 275 

Wright,  J,  S 337 

Wright,   Robert  W    421 

Wyeth ,  Samuel 467 

Wyeth,  Thomas  E 310 


Yates,   Richard 158 

Yeargin,  James  S 460 

Yeargin,  Lyman   T 501 

Young,  Joshua 263 


Ziinmerm2n,  W.    B 


Adams,    John ., 22 

Adams,  John  Q 38 

A  mes,"  O .   H 536 

Arthur,  Chester  A 88 

Benefiel,  J.    B 518 

Beveridge,  John  L 170 

Bissell,  Wm.-H    150 

Bond,  Shadrach no 

Buchanan,  James ' 74 

Burgner,  Conrad    256 

Bushey,  W.  D 336 

Butler,  Dr.  A.    C 400 

Butler,  Mrs.    A.   C 400 

Cecil,  H.  H 446 

Cecil,  Mrs.    H.   H 446 

Cleveland,  S.   Grover ..102 


Coles,  Edward   114 

Edwards,  Ninian .118 

Ewing,  Wm.    L.  D 126 

Ficklin,  O.    B iK6 

Fillmore,   Millard 66 

Ford,    Thomas 138 

French,   Augustus 142 

Garfield,    James  A .  .94 

Geyer,  George 312 

Gram,  U.  S     .. 68 

Hall,  J.   J 464 

Hall,   Mrs.   J.   J 464 

Hamiltop,  John   M 178 

Hanks,  D.   F 554 

Harrison,  Wm.  Henry 50 

Hayes,  Rutherford   B 90 


Honn,D.    W 198 

Honn,  Mrs.  D.   W 198 

Jackson,    Andrew 42 

Jefferson,    Thomas v6 

Johnson,  Andrew 82 

Kelly,  Larbia 408 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Madison,  James 30 

Matteson,  Joel  A 146 

Monroe,  James 34 

Neff,  John ....428 

Neff,  Mrs.  John 428 

Oglesby,  Richard  J 162 

Palmer,    John   M 166 

Philhower,  A.  W --350 

Pierce,  Franklin 70 


Polk,  James  K 58 

Poorman,  John 386 

Pi  all,  Cornelius 312 

Rardin,John   H 536 

Reynolds,  John 122 

Scott,  Dr.  E.    D 4^2 

Silverthorn,  L.    L 236 

Silverthorn,  Mrs-   L.  L 236 

Taylor.  Isaac 4*8 

Taylor,    Mrs-    Isaac 4*8 

Taylor,  Zachary 62 

Van    Buren,  Martin 46 

Washington,    George 18 

Wood,  John '54 

Yeargin,   L.    T 5°° 


Bensley,  T.  A 

28i 

Bull,  T.  J  

.   .     .   266 

Ed  man,  Kenny  
Gilmer,  Wm.  A  
Hood,  Tames.  . 

208 
322 
;..266 

H  uckaba,  A  .    H 340 

Hudson,  Jesse 226 

Miller,  George  L 284 

Morgan,  Dr.  W.  D 302 

Morgan,  Wm 340 

O'Hair,  M.  E 322 


Rice    Amos 

378 

Rice,  J    C           

378 

Roberts    I     N 

Sain,  I.  W  
Sanders,  David  

....302 

Taylor,  Isaac 208 

Vail,  F 284 

Watkins,  J.    H    302 

Williams,  Wm - 360 

Woodson,  James 226 


T 


